Dedication works

for Air Vanuatu

THE chairman of Air Vanuatu, Kalpokor Kalsakau, has credited the positive financial results of Air Vanuatu during 1993 to hard work and dedication by the airline’s board; the managing director, Jean-Paul Virelala; executive directors; senior management staff; and company staff at all offices and locations.

At a meeting of the board in March when the 1993 accounts were approved, Kalsakau said the mandate given to the current board, and particularly to him as chairman to make the airline profitable, had been achieved.

He said while the change in aircraft and the total repayment of government loans had been major factors in the reduction of operational and financial costs, the overall management directions taken by the company particularly towards marketing, fare structuring and

flight scheduling had assisted greatly in

promoting and maintaining Vanuatu as an attractive tourist destination in a very competitive market and despite the global economic situation.

Kalsakau advised that the company had set its operational and promotional programme for this year towards im proving tourist numbers, and said there would also be some major policy de

cisions to be considered during the year towards the airline’s future direction.

These developments are in line with the government’s broad development plans for the tourism sector in the improve ment of Bauerfield and Pekoa airports, and the diversification of tourism projects to Santo, Tanna and other islands.

The chairman of the national airline would like to extend his board’s appreci ation to government, the National Tour ism Office, private and aid institutions, and individuals who had provided sup port to Air Vanuatu in its efforts to promote the airline and also the country as a destination. However, Kalsakau called on the tourism industry to strive towards consolidation and improvement, particularly the development of ad ditional hotel rooms.

“In these changing times where tour ism, the world over, is becoming a major economic force at national and interna tional levels, I would like to see the National Tourism Office and vested interests in our local industry come together to create an annual convention to discuss tourism in this country.”

Kalsakau added that Air Vanuatu would be taking the initiative to assist the tourism office in planning for such a convention later in the year. □

Air Vanuatu: the airline is more profitable