Port Vila
Port Vila anchors Vanuatu tourism: the capital on Efate hosts 50,000 residents and most tourist facilities for a nation of 300,000 across 83 cyclone-prone islands.
Port Vila anchors Vanuatu's tourism economy on the island of Efate. This capital hosts approximately 50,000 residents and most tourist facilities in a nation of 300,000 spread across 83 islands. Tourism generates the largest private sector employment, with visitors attracted to beaches, diving, and adventure activities. Australia and New Zealand provide most visitors, with cruise ships adding day-tripper volume.
Vanuatu offers offshore financial services and has been identified as a tax haven, though the sector remains smaller than in Caribbean competitors. Agricultural exports include copra, beef, cocoa, and kava, the ceremonial beverage that has gained international markets. The economy remains vulnerable to cyclones, which regularly damage infrastructure and disrupt tourism seasons.
The nation balances kastom (traditional) governance with modern state structures, while navigating relationships with regional powers. Chinese infrastructure investment has increased, though concerns about debt sustainability have prompted caution. Port Vila's challenge is developing tourism sustainably while maintaining the authenticity that attracts visitors, managing cyclone risks, and building economic resilience across an archipelago where most residents rely on subsistence activities.