Vanuatu case study analysis

The islands are characterized by deserted beaches that boast of ancient culture with rugged islands. The geography of Vanuatu and other Pacific islands positions them as prime tourists’ hubs globally. However, a combination of various issues means that these Islands have minimal resources to develop their tourism system to scales that can benefit not only the tourists’ interests but also those of the locals living in these areas. The United Nations classifies Vanuatu as a least developed country that grapples with constraints related to its socio-economic environment (Watt, 2019, 5). The majority of those living in these islands do so in a largely rural situation accompanied by a traditional culture environment. The first one is corruption. Corruption is a vice known to water down the progress of any nation.

It is particularly rampant in the least developed countries, and the situation is no different in Vanuatu. The corruption situation is so dire that the newly elected Prime Minister admits that it is widespread. In an interview with the Prime Minister, he states that corruption has evolved from the high-ranking officials in the government. In a display of the governing issues facing the country, the Speaker waited for the President to leave for neighboring Samoa and he pardoned himself and the other thirteen convicted legislators citing the need to promote peace and unity in the nation (Baker, 2015, 2). Entrenched levels of corruption are also evident in the tourism sector. Port Villa is a prime tourist location in Vanuatu. Considering this, influential people in power had issued the land at the beachfront of Port Villa to foreigners at the expense of the locals.

In the video, producer notes that all prime pieces of property in Port Villa that could benefit the locals have been sold or leased to foreigners. Sadly, the water is also stored in open-air storages that appear highly susceptible to contamination. The locals in the video are visibly annoyed by the lack of sanitation services and demand that if visiting tourists are afforded such luxurious facilities, then the locals too should have access to similar ones. P&Q Ethical Concerns Undoubtedly, P&Q has a major role to play in the dire situation affecting tourism in Vanuatu. Their actions to ensure the island is habitable for tourist are very unethical. As a huge company endowed with resources, they should have realized that the success of tourism in a specific region is a collective effort of all stakeholders.

First, the government should take the lion share of the blame. Tourism in any country is under the mandate of the government. The government should play the role of developing rules and policies that support the industry. In addition, they should oversee implementation of these rules through local authorities, national, regional and local agencies. The companies in Vanuatu's private sector also have a responsibility. A significant chunk of these funds should be purposed for developing infrastructure in the key tourism destinations within Vanuatu (Hall, 1994, 62). Key infrastructural projects that should be prioritized are sanitation and infrastructure in the form of road development. Sanitation projects should involve the development of reliable sources of water to prevent over-reliance on rainwater. Second, there should be a waste management system to ensure the residents have access to high standard toilets and bathrooms, which allow for proper disposal of waste.