Tuvalu Travel Guide

Funafuti, Tuvalu Travel Instructions

By Melissa Raab

Picture Credit: “Resource Hub.” ESMAP, https://esmap.org/impactostorysupporting-tuvalu-move-toward-100-percent-rene/

Table of Contents 1. Tuvalu Facts 2. General and Political History 3. Politics 4. Traveling to Tuvalu 5. Lodging

10. Diet 11. Religion 12. Languages Spoken 13. Is this Country Currently in a War or Conflict?

14. Social Gigs 15. What to do on Tuvalu 16. References

6. Climate 7. Are Vaccines Required?

8. Packing: What to Bring 9. Packing: What Not to Bring Picture Source: Graeme VilleretNovelist. Creator and editor of PopulationData.net. “Tuvalu • Country Facts • Populationdata.net.” PopulationData.net, 5 Aug. 2019, https://en.populationdata.net/countries/tuvalu/.

Tuvalu Facts • This island is the second-smallest country in the world.

• Is made up of nine islands • This Island also happens to be one of the least developed country.

• In this country, there are approximately 9,943 people (Explore All Countries - Tuvalu).

• The capital is a Funafuti. This consists of 29 islets (Tuvalu Government).

• On all of the islands, cash is the only form of currency. (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).

Picture Source: Graeme VilleretNovelist. Creator and editor of PopulationData.net. “Tuvalu Country Facts • Populationdata.net.” PopulationData.net, 5 Aug. 2019, https://en.populationdata.net/countries/tuvalu/.

General and Political History • This island was originally discovered by the British and was named Ellice Islands.

• During the 1800’s this island was invaded by the Europeans. However, they brought many diseases which dropped the population from 20,000 to only 3,000.

• In 1916, these islands were established as a colony.

• Began to advocate for independence in the 1970's and gained independence in 1978 (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

Picture Credit: Gilbert & Ellice Islands. StampCircuit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.stampcircuit.com/category/gilbert-ellice-islands.

Gilbert & Ellice Islands. StampCircuit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.stampcircuit.com/ category/gilbert-ellice-islands.

Politics • There are no official political parties.

• Members of parliament typically join informal groups.

• This country has a mixed legal system: English common law and local customary law (Tuvalu Government).

Picture Credit: Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Flag of Tuvalu. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Tuvalu.

Traveling to Tuvalu One

Drive from your hometown to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Two

Take a plane from Grand Rapids to Los Angeles, California.

Three

Take a flite from the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Tuvalu.

Four Picture Credit: Funafuti International Airport: Alluring World. (2018, January 23). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from http://www.alluringworld.com/funafuti-international-airport/.

You will arrive at Funafuti – which is where you will stay most of the trip.

Lodging Hotel: Funafuti Lagoon Hotel (Home funafuti lagoon resort).

Amenities: • Free Wi-Fi • Free Parking • Air conditioning • Restaurant inside the Hotel (Home funafuti lagoon resort).

Picture Credit: Home - funafuti lagoon resort. Home - Funafuti Lagoon Resort. (n.d.)Retrieved November 22, 2021, from http://www.funafutilagoonhotel.tv/.

Climate • This climate of this area is considered tropical.

• The dry season occurs between December through February and from June through midSeptember.

• The rainy seasons occur between February through May and September to the end of November (Weatheronline.co.uk).

• The weather is typically 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and humid (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).

Picture Credit: Weatheronline.co.uk. (n.d.). Tuvalu. WeatherOnline.

Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Tuvalu.htm.

Are Vaccines Required?

• Some vaccines are required: • Typhoid • Tetanus • Hepatitis A • And sometimes Diphtheria • Other vaccines are sometimes advised – but not required • Tuberculosis • Hepatitis B (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

Picture Credit: Covid-19 vaccine: Oahu. Coronavirus Updates | Hawaii Pacific Health. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.hawaiipacifichealth.org/hph-covid-19-updates/vaccine-update/.

Picture Credit: Welcome to the official tourism site for island nation of Tuvalu. Timeless Tuvalu. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.timelesstuvalu.com/.

Packing: What to Bring and Wear

• Bring loose clothing, summer clothing.

• Women may want to still dress a little modest. (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

• Bring a raincoat, especially if you are traveling November – May(Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

• Optional: Bring snorkeling equipment (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

Packing: What NOT to Bring and Wear • Do not bring thick, heavy winter clothes.

• Do not bring any work-related items – you may buy a prepaid Wi-Fi card but there is no guarantee that you will have Wi-Fi on the island (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).

Picture Credit: Fijians in Tuvalu want Fiji Airways Fares reduced. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/business/fijians-in-tuvalu-want-fiji-airways-fares-reduced/.

Diet • The normal food on this island consists of breadfruit, plantains, fish (both cooked and raw), crayfish, pork, chicken, and local fruits and vegetables.

• Commonly, islanders eat three meals a day (Tuvalu).

• Tuvaluan people sit on the floor and eat with their hands (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).

Picture Credit: Martin, S. (2013, August 1). Global table adventure. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from http://globaltableadventure.com/recipe/tuvalu-tuna/.

Religion in Tuvalu

Protestant (92.4%) Church of Jesus Christ (1%)

Religion

Baha'i (2%) Other (3.1%)

Jehovah's Witness (1.3%) None (0.2%)

• The most prominent religion is Tuvalu is Protestant.

• It is predicted that 92% of the habitants practice this religion (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

Languages Spoken

• The main language in Tuvalu is Tuvaluan and English (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).

• However, it is common that you will only hear English. Tuvaluans will only speak in a language that the surrounding people understand (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).

Photo Credit: Retrieved 11/20/2021 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DonSYM0X4AAxydD.jpg

Is this Country Currently in a War or Conflict?

• There is currently no war.

Picture Credit: Campbell, D. (2018, December 21). Fact check: Is the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu Growing, and not sinking? ABC News. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12 -19/fact-check-is-the-island-nation-tuvalu-growing/10627318.

• Despite this, the island is going through conflicts regarding the sea level rising and most of their drinking water is caught by catchment systems (Explore All Countries - Tuvalu).

Social gigs • Dancing is very common in this country – especially on special occasions.

• Stories are often told with how the dancers move • Both men and women partake in dancing, but the line dance called faatele is performed by men or young women.

• Most Commonly young women (Tuvalu).

• In Tuvalu, sports are the main form of recreation.

• Most common are soccer, volleyball, basketball, and cricket (Tuvalu).

Picture Credit: Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 21). Tuvalu Sports Ground.

Wikipedia. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvalu_Sports_Ground.

Picture Credit: Home. hellotravel.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.hellotravel.com/tuvalu/popular-dance-forms-of-tuvalu.

What to do on Tuvalu: • One of the most popular things to do in Funafuti is diving or fishing.

You can bring your own equipment, or you may be able to rent some.  Simming in the ocean may be a hazard.

Picture Credit: The Pacifica Arts Center Welcomes you. www.theepochtimes.com.

(2019, May 29). Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.theepochtimes .com/the-pacifica-arts-centerwelcomes-you_2913278.html.

 Lagoons are usually the safest place to swim (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).  There are not many tourist shops, however there are a lot local sellers (13 things to know before visiting Tuvalu 2016).  Local crafts include weavings, numerous types of jewelry, and traditional wooden boxes.  Visit the Funafuti Marine Conservation  Home to numerous tropical fish, turtle, and sea bird species (Tuvalu travel guide 2019).  Since this island is small, there are many portions of it that do not have electricity. However, there are certain buildings that are equipped with a generator to electricity that may show movies.

Picture Credit: Welcome to the official tourism site for island nation of Tuvalu. Timeless Tuvalu. (n.d.).

Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.timelesstuvalu.com/.