Following amendments made to the Business License Act, CAP 249, a collective decision was made for
existing foreign investors and investments involved in tourism related activities to incorporate
changes to be consistent with new categories of business licensed activities.
The amendments to the Act integrate more new business activities that fall in line with the Tourism
Accreditation program which is set to provide a basic standard of tourism services on offer throughout
Vanuatu.
Discussions between the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA), the Department of Tourism
and Rates and Taxes concluded that a grace period of one calendar year, being this year 2015 will be
devoted to ensuring that all relevant processes are undertaken so that all VIPA Approval Certificates
and Business License Certificates are issued under their new and correct categories.
Therefore all existing VIPA Approval Certificates, which are either subjected or not subjected to
renewal and are engaged in tourism related business activities, are to be presented to the Department
of Tourism for proper re-classification and amendments to which a permit will be given to the investor.
The permits and VIPA Approval Certificates should then be presented immediately after to the VIPA
officers for proper issuing under the new and respective categories.
All existing investors must note that for every part of work done to achieve these changes will not be
charged and or penalised in any way.
VIPA is encouraging all existing investors who are applicable to these changes to have their existing
VIPA Approval Certificates amended as soon as possible.