Vanuatu Infrastructure Tourism Project

Port Vila is the harbourside capital and tourism hub of Vanuatu. The city has seen a seafront transformation that has simultaneously delivered a sustainable platform for community and economic prosperity while providing a renewed and resilient expression of cultural values and place.

The regeneration was the focus of a 6-year $16 million project funded by both the NZ MFAT and the Government of Vanuatu and posed the unique challenge of balancing foreign aid funding objectives with local community needs. At its core, the project provided an opportunity to express the ni-Vanuatu culture through the built environment for the local inhabitants. The first and foremost consideration in approaching the project was to address the vulnerability. In March 2015, the category five cyclone Pam hit Port Vila, displacing thousands of people and destroying the city, including the old seawall, established trees and surrounding market houses. The physical destruction was accompanied by the almost complete collapse of the thriving tourism industry.

The seafront project was prioritised and aided by additional funding from the Enhanced Integrated Framework; the project was completed 2.5 years after the cyclone. Along the 1200m long seafront redevelopment, the vast majority of the new public space is oriented towards informal gatherings on lawns, swimming in the harbour or just sitting under the new shade trees. The continuous seafront promenade also acts as a magnet for tourists arriving through the cruise ship season, increasing their time spent at the two market houses that exclusively sell made-in-Vanuatu products and services.