Research and Report Writing: A Study of Tourism and Economic Issues in Pacific Islands Rim Countries

Details

Mission and objectives

Morobe Development Foundation Inc. is a leading Community based Group base in Lae Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea who has the vision to help young people reach their full potential by utilizing their hidden talents in community development initiatives so they can realize their potentail and become a role model in the community. MDF was established to address a broader and more diverse range of objectives and work through the use of dance, music and drama, MDF’s primary aim is to ensure that women participate equally in decision making in any project undertaken, including projects related to Ending Violence against Women, and promoting Human Rights with a aim to support the Government and UN their Development Goals. MDF in collaboration with the United Nations Volunteering Program (UNVP) has also undertaken various scientific research studies related to the environment - forest cover loss, land use land cover change, the influence of various parameters on surface waters, and coastal shoreline turtle habitat loss. These projects included the participation of various experts and researchers from diverse fields across various countries across the globe - ranging from marine biology, biodiversity conservation, PNG community management, remote sensing, and land use policy among various others. MDF is managed by a management committee, which is made up of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, Secretary, the Treasurer, the Project Coordinator, Community Development Officer, and a male and female member of the foundation, and ensures that women participate equally in decision making. We at MDF assert that we have the required skill sets, knowledge, established international network, and the necessary foundational work to undertake projects successfully.

Context

There are many Pacific Rim island countries, of which Papua New Guinea is one, others are Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand, and Palau. It is expected that the impact of COVID-19 on the world economy is waning and that the economies of countries around the world are recovering. MDF's main mission is to advance the community development in Papua New Guinea and one of the potential areas is to improve the tourism sector that can benefit local communities through the creation of economic opportunities. In that connection, MDF is in discussions with potential donors from Papua New Guinea and New Zealand to develop the tourism resources that are already available in Morobe so as to attract more travelers from around the world. We want to learn from the success of tourism in New Zealand and Palau, in that regard we require the support of four Online Volunteers to explore and research tourism issues around the Pacific Rim to help us understand the positive and negative impacts of the tourism sector on the economies of each country so that we can make more informed decisions. This assignment will support MDF in advancing its mission of community development in Papua New Guinea and contribute to the achievement of SDG No.8 Decent work and economic growth.

Task description

The selected Online Volunteers are required to conduct research and write reports on tourism in Pacific Rim island countries (Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand, Palau) to understand clearly the positive and negative factors, examples of outcomes, and approaches to tourism in each country. Each Online Volunteer will conduct necessary research and write one report that includes: - an introduction - the current state of the tourism industry in each country - the weaknesses and strengths of the tourism industry in each country, and - examples of success stories or approaches.