​Pacific Islands Tourism Professional Fellows Program

Our Program

The East-West Center's Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), in cooperation with the Professional Fellows Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, conducts the Pacific Islands Tourism Professional Fellows Program. Every year this program  brings two cohorts of tourism industry professionals from the Pacific Islands to Honolulu, Hawai‘i for intensive six-week programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands.

The Pacific Islands Tourism Professional Fellows Program draws broadly and deeply upon Hawaii’s unique position as an American state with one of the world’s premier tourism industries. It is designed to build capacity across the Pacific region by creating strong and enduring connections between 32 mid-level Professional Fellows from 13 Pacific island countries and no fewer than 13 Hawaii-based Americans in private and public tourism-related organizations.

Eligiblity

Applicants must be citizens/nationals of one of the eligible countries; be between the ages of 25-40; be currently employed in their home country (or another eligible country) and have a demonstrated history of at least 2 years of employment in the tourism industry; be willing and able to obtain a J-1 visa and spend 6-weeks in the United States; is committed to returning to their home country after the program; have a track record of making an impact in their organziation, company, or community; be capable of creating an action-orientated plan to address a specific business problem or policy challenge being faced in their country; and have sufficient spoken and written English language proficiency to effectively function in an American workplace.

Eligible Countries

Applications will be accepted from the following Pacific Islands countries:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands 
• Tonga
• Timor Leste
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

The Professional Fellows Program

The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is a two-way, global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, as well as build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States.  PFP participants are placed in intensive 5-6 week fellowships which includes an internship in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and government offices across the United States for an individually tailored professional development experience.  They build a broad network with American and other program participant colleagues as they develop a deeper understanding of U.S. society.  The PFP is a two-way exchange, with American participants who have hosted foreign fellows traveling overseas for participant-driven reciprocal programs.  

An appropriate tourism development strategy can increase foreign exchange levels and job opportunities, alleviate poverty, ensure that women and minorities benefit from the activities of the tourism sector, and help  improve a country’s image.
​- ADB, ​'Pacific Economic Monitor: December 2015'

What is a tourism professional?

Recognizing that there are many different types of professionals working in various capacities at a wide-range of occupations, the Pacific Islands Tourism Professional Fellows Program employs a very broad definition of 'tourism.' As so many different types of government agencies, private-sector businesses, and civil society groups can impact tourism development in the smaller economies targetted by the program, it would be difficult to fully describe what is or isn't a 'tourism professional.' What is most important is that the applicant be committed to tourism as a means to economically empower people and communities in their home country and 

As such the program will accept applications from people employed in occupations as diverse as tourism operators; public or private sector tourism promotion agencies; restaurant operators; handicraft manufacturers/marketers/associations; owners/operators of small businesses dependent upon tourism; cultural promotion agencies and practitioners; sports tourism promoters; development financing specialists and developers; conservation area/park managers; and NGOs with a tourism and/or sustainable economic development focus.