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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Australasia
- Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Halfway between Hawaii and Australia the remote Polynesian
island nation Tuvalu keeps its beauty mostly to itself. Large
beautiful lagoons and coral reefs form most of the nine islands.
While the land remains above water, tourists can enjoy pristine
palm lined coastlines in non-commercialised areas.
A lack of tourism industry means visitors are usually left to
their own devices for beach side and water activities. Travellers
should bring their own boogie board and flippers to explore the
many beaches and lagoons. The capitol Funafuti offers simple
accommodation in six small hotels which sometimes host feasts and
dances. Tourists may also be interested in Tuvalu's production of
collectible stamps. Unfortunately tourism is growing at about the
pace of the coral and neither is enough to keep the island
afloat.
While rising sea levels threaten a number of low lying
countries, Tuvalu's three islands and six atolls will be the first
to take the plunge. The country's leaders are trying to find high
and dry quarters for Tuvalu's 12,000 people in New Zealand and
Australia. Each year only 75 people are allowed to emigrate to New
Zealand although many more would like to leave.
The nation has no fresh water, no natural resources and terrible
soil for agriculture that is being further degraded by salt water
seeping through porous coral ground. A little windfall recently
befell the island by the good fortune of their internet suffix
".tv" which is sold to television company websites. Yet despite the
nation's woes a hardy few tourists that make the voyage find a
pleasant hospitable country with a unique atoll geography.
Tuvalu's atolls were formed when coral rings grew around sinking
volcanic islands (yes, sinking is a recurrent theme in Tuvalu). The
coral continues to grow upward while the central islands eventually
disappeared leaving lagoons in their stead. The nine islands are
spread over 420 miles (676km) of ocean but together comprise only
10 square miles (26 km) to explore.
Funafuti is connected to Fiji through bi-weekly flights although
the remoteness of the islands make it a pricey journey. Increased
tourism may throw the remote island a thin lifeline but its future
is anything but smooth sailing.
Information & Facts
Customs
Social interactions in Tuvalu are friendly and informal. Respect
for elders is important. The population of Tuvalu is predominantly
Congregationalist, and conservative Christian values are
practised.
Duty Free
Visitors to Tuvalu can freely import 200 cigarettes or 225g of
tobacco or cigars; 1 litre of wine or spirits; and 1 bottle of
perfume. Although free of duty the following must be declared on
entry: any binoculars, still cameras, rolls of unexposed film,
portable radios, portable tape recorders, portable type writer and
a reasonable quantity of sports equipment.
Passport Visa
It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months
validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your
travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different
rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.