Vanuatu Country & Tourist Information

Location
Southwest Pacific.

Area
12,190 sq km (4,707 sq miles).

Population
222,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
18.2 per sq km.

Capital
Port-Vila (Island of Efaté).
Population: 34,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK/France in 1980.

Language
English and French are the official languages. Bislama (Pidgin English), the most widely used day-to-day language, is a Melanesian mixture of French and English. French and English are widely spoken and both English and French names exist for all towns. There are more than 115 local dialects.

Religion
Mostly Christian, including Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic and several other denominations.

Time
GMT + 11.

Electricity
240 volts AC. Australian three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Ham Lini since 2004.

Head of State
President Kalkot Mataskelekele since 2004.

Recent History
Serge Vohor, the third-time prime minister, was ousted on a vote of no confidence in December 2004, following a controversial move on Vohor’s part to attempt to switch diplomatic recognition from China to Taiwan without even first (reputedly) consulting his ministers. He was quickly replaced by Ham Lini, who swiftly revoked the agreements with Taiwan that had been signed. Kalkot Mataskelekele’s post as president has been, by comparison, highly stable. However, parties in Vanuatu have been subject to splits and factional disputes and these have dogged Vanuatu’s politics throughout the last decade.

Telephone
Country code: 678. There are no area codes. Outgoing international calls must go through the international operator. There are public telephones at airports and post offices. Phone cards can be purchased in local currency from the post office. For emergency services, dial: 22333 for fire services; 22222 for police; 22100 for an ambulance.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
There are several Internet cafes in Port-Vila and Luganville. Internet facilities are also available at some post offices.

Media
Vanuatu’s only TV channel was established with the help of Radio France Overseas (RFO) and broadcasts in French and English. Radio Vanuatu runs a shortwave and mediumwave (AM) service, and a commercial FM station. Vanuatu Weekly is a Government newspaper, existing alongside a handful of privately-owned papers.

Post
Post offices are located on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo. Airmail to Europe takes about seven days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1630.

Press
Port Vila Presse is published daily in English and French, the Vanuatu Daily Post in English and the Vanuatu Weekly in English, French and Bislama. The monthly Pacific Island Profile is published in English and French. For tourist information, see the quarterly publication, Hapi Tumas Long Vanuatu.

Radio
VBTC operates Radio Vanuatu.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Feb Father Lini Day. 
5 Mar Custom Chief's Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day. 
21 May Ascension.
24 Jul Children's Day.
30 Jul Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
5 Oct Constitution Day.
29 Nov Unity Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Family Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Feb Father Lini Day. 
5 Mar Custom Chief's Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day. 
13 May Ascension.
24 Jul Children's Day.
30 Jul Independence Day.
15 Aug* Assumption.
5 Oct Constitution Day.
29 Nov Unity Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Family Day.

*Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information:

Vanuatu National Tourism Office
PO Box 209, Ground Floor, Pilioka House, Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Tel: 22515 or 22685.
Website: www.vanuatutourism.com

south-pacific.travel (South Pacific Tourism Organization) in Fiji
Street address: Level 3 FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 330 4177.
Website: www.south-pacific.travel

Honorary Consulate of Vanuatu in France
9 rue Daru, 75008 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4053 8225.

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Vanuatu to the United Nations in the USA
42 Broadway, 12th Floor, Suite 1200-18, New York, NY 10004, USA
Tel: (212) 425 9600.


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