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COUNTRY INFORMATION - VANUATU

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Location of Vanuatu
Vanuatu, formerly called the New Hebrides, forms an incomplete double chain of islands stretching north to south-east for some 560 miles. They are situated approximately 1,407 miles north-east of Sydney, Australia, and 500 miles west of Fiji. Together with the Banks and Torres islands, the chains comprise about 40 mountainous islands and 40 islets and rocks. The islands are volcanic in origin and there are five active volcanoes. The Ambrym and Lopevi volcanoes are permanently active and highly dangerous. Lopevi was extinct for many years but became active 50 years ago. Further to the south, on the island of Tanna, is Yasur, cited as the most accessible active volcano in the world and a major tourist attraction.

Airports
Port-Vila airport is 4 miles from Port-Vila and the travel time is around 15 minutes. Buses and taxis are available.

Language
English and French are the official languages. Bislama, the most widely used day-to-day language, is a Melanesian mixture of French and English.

Places To Go
Tourism is centred on the islands of Efaté, Tanna and Espiritu Santo, but there are plans to develop facilities on more of the islands. The capital, Port-Vila, is on Efaté Island. Its Cultural Centre has one of the most extensive Pacific artefact collections in the world. There are also plenty of opportunities for active visitors, especially those interested in watersports. Tanna Island has the world’s most accessible active volcano, Yasur. Visitors can drive to the summit and peer into the crater at a seething mass of bubbling lava. The village of the John Frum cargo cult can also be visited. It began with the arrival of an American soldier in World War II and believers wait for him to return with great riches. Espiritu Santo Island inspired James A.Michener to write South Pacific. Here, scuba divers can see where the liner President Coolidge and the destroyer USS Tucker rest on the seabed.

On Pentecost Island during April and May visitors can, for a fee, see men performing the Naghol (a ritual leap) to ensure a bountiful yam harvest, where they tie vines to their ankles and leap from a 100ft.tower, falling head first. Only the vine saves them from death. Only recently, this ceremony was opened to the public and the fee goes towards local projects. Visitors who are interested should contact the National Tourism Office of Vanuatu well in advance. There are a number of tours available in Vanuatu, including trips to see volcanoes (by air), harbour cruises, sailing trips, fishing trips, cultural tours and visits to World War II relics.

Vanuatu National Tourism Office
PO Box 209,
Ground Floor,
Pilioka House,
Port Vila,
Vanuatu
Tel: 22515 or 22685 or 22813.
Fax: 23889.
E-mail: tourism@vanuatu.com.vu
Website: www.vanuatutourism.com

Honorary Consulate of Vanuatu
9 rue Darue,
75008 Paris,
France
Tel: (1) 4053 8225.
Fax: (1) 4053 8220.

British High Commission
Tassiriki,
PO Box 567,
Port-Vila,
Vanuatu
Tel: 23100.
Fax: 23651.
E-mail: bhcvila@vanuatu.com.vu

CIA World Factbook - Vanuatu

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