Located off the North East coast of Brisbane, Australia, Vanuatu
is a nation in the Pacific Ocean, comprised of 83 islands, with a
total land area of 14,700 square kilometers, and territorial
waters extending to 450,000 square kilometers.
Home to some of the world’s most amazing beaches, pristine
forests, and majestic landscapes, Vanuatu is a tropical paradise
attracting tourists and investments from around the world. The
average midday temperature in Port Vila (the capital) is 29°C in
summer and 25°C in winter, and rainfall is about 235 centimeters
(90 inches) annually. The population is approximately 280,000, of
which some of Vanuatu 95% are indigenous “Ni -Vanuatu” of
Melanesian origin with the remainder consisting of Europeans,
other Pacific Islanders, and Asians. English and French are the
official languages of the country, whilst Bislama (local dialect )
is the national language. Depending on daylight saving, Vanuatu is
11 to 12 hours ahead of GMT (i.e., 1 hour ahead or the same time
as Sydney and, 3 hours ahead of Hong Kong). Business hours in Port
Vila are 7.30 am to 11.30 am and 1.30 pm to 5 pm, Monday to
Friday. The Global Happiness Index has consistently ranked Vanuatu
as one of the happiest countries on Earth.