Vanuatu–Australia diplomacy: Vanuatu PM Jotham Napat heads to Canberra ahead of next week’s signing of the revised Nakamal Agreement, after months of delays over sovereignty, security and critical infrastructure wording; talks are also set against a wider Pacific “permanent contest” backdrop as Australia weighs options including a possible Pacific-wide security deal. Tourism strategy rollout: Vanuatu Tourism Office has launched its 2026–2028 Tourism Marketing Strategy at the 3rd Vanuatu Tourism Market Forum in Port Vila, shifting from recovery to sustainable growth with targets of 120,000 overnight arrivals by end-2026 and 150,000 annual visitors by 2028, plus a focus on aviation and cruise connectivity. Forum focus: The same forum (theme: “Gateway to Growth—Australia, Aviation, & Cruise”) brought together operators and aviation/cruise leaders to align destination marketing around lifeline markets, adventure positioning and improved traveller experience across provinces. Fuel crisis lessons: A Pacific-wide timeline shows how the fuel crisis drove sharp increases in fuel and electricity costs, pushing countries to seek donor support and accelerate renewables—an issue that directly affects travel costs and tourism planning across the region. Regional context: PNG and Solomon Islands signed a 2026–2030 cooperation framework covering investment, trade, infrastructure and security—another signal of shifting regional priorities that can shape future visitor access.