NADI (Pacnews) — Forum Island leaders have approved the negotiation of a Pacific services agreement.
Authorities from the region are gathering here in Fiji to discuss how regional national carriers can have access to all Forum-member countries.
Although there has been no indication whether this would result in increases air services between Pacific island countries, authorities are initially aiming at removing restrictions on land rights.
Speaking on Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program, Iosefa Maiava, the deputy secretary-general of the Forum Secretariat, said this should stimulate the travel and tourism industries in the region, as well as the movement of goods and services.
He said the agreement would not, for the moment national carriers from Australia and New Zealand.
Maiava said national carriers of Pacific island countries would not be in a position to compete with bigger airline operations of these two countries.
Island hopping can be an expensive exercise, costing “as much as a trip half way around the planet,” and in many cases involves traveling through Sydney, Brisbane or Auckland.
