The Bounty of the Pacific: What Does the Region Produce?
- Lewis Donaldson
- Jan 10
- 2 min read
The Pacific region draws tourists from across the world for its beauty, climate and culture. Understandably, a large factor contributing to the Pacific economy is tourism. But with minimal land, smaller populations and isolation in the Pacific, what industries generate income for Pacific nations?
But first, how much does tourism contribute to the Pacific in 2025? The Pacific continues to recover from years of global lockdown, but for Tonga, 9.84% of its GDP is tourism revenue; Vanuatu with 7.73% and Fiji with 5.32%. In comparison, Australia's tourism portion of its GDP is 1.97%, whilst France's is 1.36%.
Back to the question now. What industries generate income for Pacific nations?
Mineral Resources
Surprisingly, mining is a major contributor to the GDPs of Pacific nations. The Pacific Ring of Fire is to thank for this, producing a resource-rich region with numerous mineral deposits as a result of geological forces.
Concerning metals, gold and copper is found in abundance in Pacific nations like Fiji and Papua New Guinea. New Caledonia has the world's 5th largest nickel reserves and is the globe's 3rd largest producer of the metal. Meanwhile, the Pacific seabed is home to large quantities of cobalt, silver, lead, zinc, manganese and other minerals.
The Pacific region is also home to large quantities of oil and natural gas, such as Papua New Guinea.
Agricultural Products
Fruits (e.g., bananas, pineapples, kiwi fruit, mangoes and coconuts)
Vegetables (e.g., taro, sweet potatoes, cassava and yams)
Crops (e.g., rice, coffee and sugarcane)
Marine Resources
Fish (e.g., tuna, salmon, billfish, marlin and mackerel)
Shellfish (e.g., freshwater mussels, shrimp, crab, and oysters)
Seaweed and other marine plants
Forestry Products
Lumber and timber
Pulp and paper products
Nuts (e.g. ngali)
Tourism
Tourism, as discussed earlier, is another big contributor to the Pacific's economy. The region struggled especially through global shutdowns under COVID, but the industry has already and is continuing to reach pre-pandemic levels as of January 2025.
Whether you're looking for the thrill or just seeking to relax, the region offers various ways of doing so with:
Ecotourism and adventure tourism
Cultural and heritage tourism, and
Marine and coastal tourism
Together, these industries and products contribute significantly to the economies of Pacific nations and territories. Mining, marine resources, tourism, forestry and agricultural products ultimately work hand-in-hand to support local communities and contribute to international trade.
