South Pacific Superyachting is a new organisation, which sees Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia come together to promote the region as one cohesive destination
It aims to do so in the same way as the Mediterranean and Caribbean are seen as large cruising grounds beyond the borders of the nations that form them.
Formed by, Port Denarau Marina, Fiji, Tourism Tahiti and Superyacht Australia and NZ Marine the new marketing initiative seeks to encourage more yachts to move within the destination.
The region has everything a yacht requires from cruising grounds – on land entertainment and boatbuilding and refit facilities.
Destinations within the region have all worked hard to promote their own cruising grounds, and as a by-product of that promotion, the greater region. The four coun-tries offer sheltered coves, ports, superyacht marinas and of course thousands of unpopulated islands and beaches for yacht owners, family and friends to enjoy.
The governments of the four major Pacific countries now have user-friendly rules that allow yachts to stay longer in each country, and passage from one country to the other is as simple as possible. The South Pacific also offers something of tangible value to charter yachts – an exciting, relatively untouched and very desirable location to add to their marketing mix.
The goal of the group is to double both the number of superyachts that currently visit the South Pacific annually, and the amount of days they spend in the region by 2018.
Key to that aim is ensuring that the region holds strong appeal for both private and charter yachts, and the parties involved are active in streamlining charter yacht entry laws between countries.
“Working as a cohesive unit to move yachts through the South Pacific is a step that will produce real benefit for superyacht marine and tourism industries within the region,” says Nigel Skeggs, of Fiji’s Port Denarau Marina.