Our Vision, Mission & Values

At the heart of our approach is a commitment to creating new quality jobs for local people and providing ongoing training, development, and clear career pathways that can take individuals from unemployment to skilled roles and even into management.   This includes jobs created at our local organisations and within the local economies that grow through our partnership.

We invest in local internships, training programmes, and youth scholarships, giving young people the chance to gain practical experience, build confidence, and access further education. Our Fiji village immersion creates unique training opportunities for local youth to engage in community tourism leading for the first time and build their skills such as communication, resilience, time management, confidence, public speaking and leadership.

By empowering individuals with skills and opportunities, we create sustainable livelihoods, nurture the next generation of leaders, and ensure that the benefits of our experiences extend far beyond the immediate experience — strengthening communities for the future.

By supporting village-owned enterprises, Think Pacific can ensure that the benefits of travel are fairly and directly shared within communities.

We are piloting eco-lodges and homestays that are fully owned and managed by villages, so that income from hosting flows straight back to families and local initiatives. This model not only guarantees that villages are paid fairly for welcoming groups, but also empowers communities to shape tourism on their own terms.

Beyond accommodation, we help local people set up and access wider tourism opportunities — from guiding and cultural workshops to food, crafts, and transport services. By building capacity, providing training, and supporting enterprise development, we are creating a community-led tourism model that strengthens livelihoods, protects culture, and ensures that every visitor contributes to a more sustainable, regenerative future.

Across Fiji, Thailand, and Bali, our programmes are designed to share the benefits of travel fairly by opening opportunities for micro-enterprises, family-owned businesses, charities, and NGOs to engage directly with students. From site visits and cultural workshops to speaker fees and hands-on experiences, we ensure that small organisations are not excluded from international education programmes.

In Fiji, this might mean partnering with Coral Coast Conservation projects, village women’s craft groups, or small eco-tourism initiatives, where communities earn directly through guiding, hosting, and sharing traditional skills. In Bali, students visit family-run art studios, dance schools, and cooperatives, paying fair workshop fees and learning how creativity sustains livelihoods. In Thailand, opportunities extend to animal welfare NGOs, tribal craft collectives, and grassroots conservation projects, ensuring that local people benefit from international engagement while students gain authentic, community-driven insight.

By deliberately removing barriers to entry, Think Pacific makes it possible for even the smallest enterprises and organisations to be part of global education. This approach spreads economic benefits more widely, celebrates cultural diversity, and supports grassroots changemakers whose voices often go unheard in mainstream tourism.

Leading by Example: Participants, Communities & Government All Benefit

At Think Pacific, we aim to demonstrate and advocate responsible travel by teaching participants appropriate cultural practices, behaviours, and codes of conduct. This not only benefits local communities and government but also equips students to become ambassadors for better global travel.

• Promoting Cultural Sensitivity & Mutual Respect – Encouraging participants to honour traditions, respect community leaders, and embrace local customs.

• Challenging Mass Tourism Norms – By embedding zero-alcohol policies, phone-free spaces, and modest behaviour expectations, TP sets itself apart from disruptive or exploitative travel models.

• Language Appreciation & Cross-Cultural Learning – Fostering meaningful connections through learning local words, greetings, and communication styles.

• Strengthening Environmental Stewardship – Embedding low-impact habits such as waste reduction, conservation, and respectful use of natural resources, taught through the lens of cultural values and ecological knowledge.

This approach ensures participants travel with purpose, humility, and responsibility, creating positive outcomes for both host communities and future generations of travellers.

Think Pacific programmes are designed to shift mindsets and challenge global systems through immersive and reflective experiences. Participants often rethink their roles in the world, creating ripple effects that extend long after the programme ends. By embedding decolonial and anti-extractive education into both pre-departure and on-site learning, we ensure students approach communities with humility and respect.

Our participants (including future teachers, medics, engineers, and leaders) are inspired to apply ethical practices in their fields, fostering a culture of global citizenship. This journey doesn’t just change how they travel; it shapes how they advocate, innovate, and lead with responsibility throughout their lives and careers.