HelloDive's first SPTE visit reveals new opportunities for diving and tourism in the South Pacific

• June 6, 2026
• Market Insight

In March, HelloDive was invited to Nadi, Fiji to attend the South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE 2026), with Sales Manager Zoe representing the company at the event. As HelloDive's first participation in SPTE, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to better understand tourism developments across the South Pacific and strengthen relationships with regional industry partners.

During the event, Zoe connected with tourism boards, resorts and travel operators from Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea, exchanging ideas and exploring future opportunities for cooperation.

As one of the most important tourism industry conferences in the South Pacific region, this year's SPTE featured extensive B2B negotiations, alongside multiple discussions on tourism industry development during the day-one Industry Day.

Sustainable tourism was a recurring theme throughout the meetings, covering topics such as the gradual reduction of single-use plastics, alternative eco-friendly tableware solutions, and how destinations can enhance the resilience and recovery capabilities of their tourism sectors when facing natural disasters.

The overall atmosphere of the venue was highly open and vibrant. Beyond the formal meetings, there were numerous exhibition areas showcasing South Pacific culture and community projects, including handicrafts by women entrepreneurs and eco-themed displays. This elevated SPTE from being just a tourism trade show to a centralised showcase of South Pacific culture and the future direction of travel.

During the two days of business appointments, HelloDive also gained a deeper understanding of many South Pacific travel resources that remain relatively unfamiliar to the Chinese market.

"What stood out to me was how many destinations in the South Pacific still have incredible stories and experiences that are largely unknown to Chinese travellers," Zoe said. "That creates exciting opportunities for both the destinations and travel businesses like HelloDive that are helping bridge that gap."

In addition to the well-known destination of Fiji, places like Vanuatu, Tonga, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea offer incredibly unique diving and travel experiences.

Some of these countries not only possess rich marine resources but also retain a powerful sense of local cultural heritage. For instance, in Papua New Guinea, different villages maintain distinct languages and cultural traditions; meanwhile, Tonga is moving beyond whale watching to introduce new ways to experience the ocean combined with resort stays.

For HelloDive, the South Pacific islands have always represented a region with immense potential. Not only does it hold a vast number of destinations yet to be fully understood by the Chinese market, but nearly every island nation here is also deeply intertwined with the ocean, diving and outdoor travel.

Following HelloDive's growing collaboration with destinations such as Fiji and Vanuatu in recent years, we look forward to exploring more South Pacific island resources in depth. We remain committed to introducing these distinctive diving and travel experiences to Chinese travellers and helping more people discover what this remarkable region has to offer.