DR APISALOME MOVONO
Associate Professor of Tourism
The University of the South Pacific
Api is a Fijian academic and tourism expert from Buca, Natewa in Cakaudrove, with maternal roots in Naimalavau, Nakelo, Tailevu. He is an Associate Professor of Tourism at the University of the South Pacific (USP), bringing decades of experience and leadership to the Pacific development space. Api holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Affairs & Tourism, a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, and a Master of Arts focusing on the economic and social impacts of tourism. He completed his PhD at Griffith University in Australia, where he examined resilience, livelihoods, and adaptability among Indigenous Pacific peoples.
A recognised authority in tourism and sustainable development, Dr. Movono also serves as an Industry Fellow at Griffith University and an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University. He influences public policy, academic research, and community practice across the Pacific, advancing frameworks that integrate climate change adaptation, Indigenous knowledge systems, and the well-being of tourism-dependent communities.
In August 2025, Api was recognised as a Distinguished Scholar by the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, acknowledging his outstanding scholarly contributions and leadership in advancing global understanding of tourism resilience and Indigenous development. Api has authored numerous scholarly works, garnering over 1,200 citations since 2020 and an h-index of 17. His innovative frameworks, such as the Frangipani and Tourism Resilience Frameworks, offer new ways to measure well-being and socio-ecological resilience from Indigenous and Pacific perspectives.
Beyond academia, Api has advised key regional and international institutions, including the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Tourism. In 2023, he joined Fiji’s Review Committee for the Great Council of Chiefs, contributing to the renewal of policy and reform of Indigenous governance. He has also worked closely with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management to revitalise Fiji’s national rural development policies.
His achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, including the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Award, the East-West Centre Tourism Fellowship, World Bank Pacific Ocean Finance Fellowship and the USP Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence. In his free time, Api enjoys farming, fishing, baking, cooking, and appreciates the occasional talanoa with friends and family.
