Tourism operators Sam Andikar and Warren Gamma were awarded for their outstanding contributions to the Vanuatu Tourism Industry at the Vanuatu Tourism Awards for Excellence held at Warrick Le Lagon Resort, Fare Pasifika on 7 March, 2015.

Both Sam and Warren have graduated from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) with the Certificate III in Tourism and the Diploma of Management.   

Warren is the Managing Director of Edge Vanuatu, a tour company taking visitors on an exhilarating abseil down the Cascades waterfall. He also trains tour guides in rural and remote areas of Vanuatu through the TVET Sector Strengthening Program. Warren, who received the award for best tour guide, was commended by the judges for his enthusiasm and professionalism. 

Like Warren, Sam also manages his own tour company called Millennium Tours on the Island of Santo. As the company’s CEO, Sam has been building his business with the full involvement of his community since 2003. The benefits of the business are re-invested into village employment, schools, teachers, guest houses and the continual improvement of the tour. Sam received the judge’s special commendation for the Millennium Cave tour.   

APTC Tourism Trainer, Kevin Tabi, also a member of the event’s organising committee, was on hand with APTC Tourism students to support the event with concierge services and meeting and greeting guests.   

Many of the finalists were APTC graduates or businesses who employ APTC graduates and have invested in training of their employees. 

The event was hosted by the Today Show’s weather man Steve Jacobs, who is an ambassador for the Vanuatu Tourism Office in Australia, and Miss Vanuatu 2014 Valerie Martinez.