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Reimagining South Pacific tourism post-pandemic
Seeking sustainable, self-determined development
Photo gallery
This photo gallery showcases images captured by Pedram Pirnia across the South Pacific over the past decade, alongside quotes from people interviewed in Samoa, Cook Islands and Fiji for the Reimagining South Pacific Tourism research project in 2020. These inspirational quotes and beautiful photographs highlight the strength, resilience, wisdom and innovation of Pacific peoples.
Click on a photo to see the full gallery!
!["At the beginning of this, just seeing [the] beach just completely dead, you’re like: ‘What are we without these people [tourists]?’ ...And then over time you see the locals taking their families to the beach, you know, people are spending time with their families and stuff.” [Interview – Cook Islands male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_9744a834b3a745998a3c0fbe57e7bf9d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1283,h_1283,q_90/f9dc00_9744a834b3a745998a3c0fbe57e7bf9d~mv2.webp)
![“We have a number of vegetables growing around our land like pumpkins, avocadoes, egg plants and string beans that we sell when they are ready either here on the road for passing car or if there is plenty, my husband or I would take them to town to sell.” [Interview – Samoan female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_5b01c3c4242e49b395bae603deaea625~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_5b01c3c4242e49b395bae603deaea625~mv2.webp)
!["At the moment...each [group] does their own rotational visitations to a household each week.... This helps the villagers a lot with our social, health and cultural wellbeing. We have devotions together, catch up over tea or kava afterwards and just socialise & de-stress." [Interview - Fijian female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_eaa46ef886ad487180152fff0d0a0ef8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1309,h_1309,fp_0.66_0.2,q_90/f9dc00_eaa46ef886ad487180152fff0d0a0ef8~mv2.webp)
!["Some members have gone on to operate small canteens, selling food packs and cutting grass. These never used to happen before. Everyone was working, there was no time for these micro businesses..." [Interview – Fijian male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_6d6b88650167432291ca01d47c79b1a5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,fp_0.75_0.35,q_90/f9dc00_6d6b88650167432291ca01d47c79b1a5~mv2.webp)
!["Our communities have come together more I think - we always shared but this time without rushing in and out of homes to go to work, we actually have proper conversations with our neighbours like the old days. We take the time… to make sure neighbours and other extended families are ok, we visit each other more often" [Interview – Samoan female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_fa7c5f979c2d4d2b85e85113fc8261e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,fp_0.6_0.29,q_90/f9dc00_fa7c5f979c2d4d2b85e85113fc8261e9~mv2.webp)
!["...we all want our families to grow in harmony and for all to be healthy with a roof over their heads and have food to eat… I hope for our community to prosper too so that we leave nobody behind but grow as a community as well." [Interview – Samoan female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_0aeb856653f54feb997ae1da9a38f56d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1309,h_1309,fp_0.63_0.36,q_90/f9dc00_0aeb856653f54feb997ae1da9a38f56d~mv2.webp)
!["It is a learning curve as well when we think about placing your eggs in one basket rather than diversifying..." [Interview - Fijian male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_68e133f6c40b441f8a1bbf56e48964f0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_68e133f6c40b441f8a1bbf56e48964f0~mv2.webp)
!["We eat mainly from our plantations, catch our own fish, crab, clams, seaweed and all that’s out there that doesn’t need cash" [Interview – Fijian woman, business owner]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_3eee906834754249aede2df60bfa7d76~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_3eee906834754249aede2df60bfa7d76~mv2.webp)
!["I think for the future of my family, I would like to see things more sustainable like pushing the skills of making traditional Samoan fine mats, traditional weaving.... These skills can serve you because you make things with your own hands and... Our own people value them so when tourists don’t come, we still have people here that will come and buy them." [Interview – Samoan female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_297dc53a6fa2448ba1505f1c94ddbdaf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1309,h_1309,fp_0.24_0.27,q_90/f9dc00_297dc53a6fa2448ba1505f1c94ddbdaf~mv2.webp)
!["This time to me is about restoring and renewing things...and giving our environment time to restore and breathe again before it gets busy, because I'm optimistic we will come out of this." [Interview – Cook Islands female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_6bd9621eb1ec407c8bb52b1b3c71ca49~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2408,h_2408,q_90/f9dc00_6bd9621eb1ec407c8bb52b1b3c71ca49~mv2.webp)
![“I think a lot of people turned spiritual. I’ve never seen these people go to church in the past. And now you see them dressed up on Sunday mornings heading down to the church.” [Interview – Cook Islands male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_d427e9c1e2134061abc2b1f82fbe95c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_d427e9c1e2134061abc2b1f82fbe95c8~mv2.webp)
![“The display of increased humanity has been a plus to observe and be a part of. The sense of community is stronger and being in it together.” [Interview – Cook Islands female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_91c447ad3ef640ea820dd8e3bc134460~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,fp_0.51_0.51,q_90/f9dc00_91c447ad3ef640ea820dd8e3bc134460~mv2.webp)
!["We’ve had so much more time together. It is good to be out in the open and getting dirty… the quiet in the plantation allows us to relax while working. Less stress and this feels natural." [Interview – Samoan male who lost job as waiter]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_6339562121ca4768bcd3b9071b7befd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,fp_0.57_0.3,q_90/f9dc00_6339562121ca4768bcd3b9071b7befd8~mv2.webp)
!["[We] take time to look after our health and wellbeing - more time for fitness/walking/exercise - better nutrition and spending more time together as a family. Made us look at the positive side of things." [Survey respondent]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_33f15a1b80d2491b8e7bb990e230c75a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_33f15a1b80d2491b8e7bb990e230c75a~mv2.webp)
!["Like our family, everyone else has gone back to the land… For some things, I’ve had to relearn skills that have been not been used for years, skills in planting and especially in fishing. …I am very happy with the plantation of mixed crops I have now and feeling confident we will be ok moving forward in these times of uncertainty…" [Interview - Samoa, young male who lost his hotel employment]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_5a36b39ae20a49d6bf1e23503297b17b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_5a36b39ae20a49d6bf1e23503297b17b~mv2.webp)
!["Everyone's so connected now, more connected now." [Interview – Cook Island male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_0116562cb23f44bdb314d577442ef44b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,fp_0.56_0.45,q_90/f9dc00_0116562cb23f44bdb314d577442ef44b~mv2.webp)
!["My kids were sickly when I was working, they were eating junk. Since I’m not working, they’re eating more healthy foods...eating from the land –fresh fruits and vegetables." [Interview -Fijian female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_e60f41b795a44758824dd3739209160e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_e60f41b795a44758824dd3739209160e~mv2.webp)
!["More people coming to church, more people attending village meetings, greater sense of community." [Interview – Fijian male]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_8c37220cee9f43ee94b82274dec434ce~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_8c37220cee9f43ee94b82274dec434ce~mv2.webp)
!["I have to say we’ve been able to properly rest and recharge for a new day. …I have really enjoyed down time with shortened opening hours so have also found time to do other hobbies like learning a new skill … or caring for my garden which has been neglected over the years." [Interview - Samoan businesswoman]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_cb43ba7e518f4a7796480a18cc534e1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_cb43ba7e518f4a7796480a18cc534e1e~mv2.webp)
!["With this pandemic, we just focus on our family and how we’re going to survive from day to day. We do not know when this situation will end, as it is worldwide. We are still being able to be humorous – laughing out loud at situations." [Interview - Fijian elder]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_93a45582c2a642b4bb4a442882bccbb6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2420,h_2415,fp_0.37_0.17,q_90/f9dc00_93a45582c2a642b4bb4a442882bccbb6~mv2.webp)
![“That’s why I want my grandchildren and my children to see what my ancestors left for us to enjoy. Because the sea is over there, they go in the sea and get food. You don’t buy it, you go and find what you can eat from the ocean, go do some planting and then when they grow you eat, you [have] food on the table, you don’t miss anything." [Interview – Cook Islands female]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f9dc00_218aaa2b523d4b3a952e278a5f708439~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_2415,h_2415,q_90/f9dc00_218aaa2b523d4b3a952e278a5f708439~mv2.webp)
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