May 16, 2026
Behind every appointment at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange is a potential itinerary, partnership or new pathway for travellers to discover the Pacific.
At SPTE 2026, those conversations took place at a record scale.
The event facilitated 2,809 business-to-business meetings between Pacific tourism operators and international buyers, achieving an 80 percent appointment booking rate. Both figures were the highest recorded in SPTE’s history.
Held from 24 to 26 March at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa, SPTE 2026 brought together more than 225 tourism professionals. The trade floor included 82 sellers representing 17 Pacific countries and territories, 60 buyers from 16 international markets and eight ancillary service providers.
Seller conversion reached 84 percent, an increase of 16 percentage points from 2025. The result reflects growing confidence among Pacific tourism businesses in SPTE as a platform for developing international trade relationships.
The growth was not limited to meeting numbers.
Papua New Guinea increased its representation from one seller in 2025 to seven in 2026, giving buyers greater access to the country’s accommodation, cultural and adventure tourism products.
Support from development partners also enabled 11 businesses from Smaller Island States and Territories to participate. This helped operators from destinations with limited access to international trade events present their products directly to buyers and explore new distribution opportunities.
The broader representation strengthened SPTE’s role as a regional marketplace, where established destinations and emerging operators can participate within the same trade environment.
SPTE 2026 expanded beyond scheduled buyer and seller appointments with the introduction of its first Industry Day.
The programme attracted 93 participants and featured discussions on tourism trends, market readiness and issues affecting the region’s tourism sector.
The Women in Business Showcase also provided a dedicated platform for women-led tourism enterprises from six Pacific countries. Participants were able to present their businesses, connect with trade partners and build visibility within the wider SPTE programme.
International and regional media participation exceeded event targets. Ten media representatives from Australia, Fiji, Italy and New Zealand attended, producing more than 200 pieces of digital content before, during and after the event.
This coverage extended the reach of participating businesses beyond the trade floor and introduced Pacific tourism stories to wider consumer and industry audiences.
SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker said the results demonstrated the commercial value created when Pacific destinations work together.
“SPTE 2026 demonstrated that the Pacific’s unified approach to tourism is delivering real commercial value for our members,” Mr Cocker said.
“The strong participation, high-quality meetings and positive stakeholder feedback show that the region is moving forward with confidence, collaboration and a clear commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth.”
Fiji Airways supported SPTE 2026 as Platinum Partner, providing significant in-kind assistance for the hosted buyer programme and helping strengthen participation from key international source markets.
The event was also supported by New Zealand Māori Tourism, UnionPay International, the Fiji Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, South Sea Cruises, participating National Tourism Organisations, ancillary partners and a network of tourism businesses and event supporters.
Feedback collected from buyers, sellers and event partners showed strong satisfaction with SPTE 2026 and a high level of interest in returning for the next edition.
Fiji will again host SPTE in 2027, reinforcing the country’s position as a regional tourism and aviation hub.
Recommendations from the 2026 report will guide preparations for the next event. Priorities include refining event operations, expanding buyer reach and continuing to improve access for Smaller Island States, emerging destinations and developing tourism businesses.
The full SPTE 2026 Post-Event Report provides detailed participation figures, stakeholder feedback, programme outcomes and recommendations for future events.
