Tourism in the South Pacific: A Polynesia/Melanesia discussion

Abstract

The term South Pacific conjures up images of swaying palm trees, warm blue waters, tiny, perfect islands ringed with white sands, happy natives leading lives of ease and pleasure — but always ready to smilingly attend to the every whim of tourists. Tourism marketing rarely acknowledges the incredible range of geographic, political, cultural and social differences to be found in the region. This is a disservice to potential — and hopefully repeat — tourists who may seek a variety of experiences and to host communities who find themselves having to deal with stereotypes set by marketing forces and which may have little relevance to their actual physical and socio‐cultural environments. This discussion seeks to introduce some diversity into the homogeneous picture of what constitutes a South Pacific “paradise”.