The island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu was a strategic military base in World War Two. 100,000 servicemen and women were stationed there.

These days, it’s cruise ships, rather than battle ships that tie up at the wharf and the Santo locals are welcoming them with open arms.

Stall holder: There’s a tourist boat coming over to Luganville town. That’s why you can see some ladies here, selling their handcrafts.

Most of our products are locally made by us. And we’re selling things that are made from coconut shells, some carving. Anything that the tourist might like to buy.

Tania Nugent: The largest of Vanuatu’s 83 islands, Espiritu Santo was first discovered by the Europeans in the 1600’s. Now it’s quietly appearing on the tourist trail. Its capital Luganville is the second largest centre in Vanuatu.

It was very different here in the 1940’s when the island was used as a World War Two military base. Some of the old Quonset huts that once dominated the streetscape are still around.

Luke Tokar, tour operator: Our job is to organise all the tours in the island. I’ve been doing this for about 10 years now.

Tania Nugent: And in that 10 years do you think that tourism has grown a lot on Santo.

Luke Tokar: Oh yes, it seems like it’s really growing up now, especially where this international flight now from Brisbane to Santo it brings more and more tourists coming.

Tania Nugent: So what is it about Santo that you think people should come here for?

Luke Tokar: For scuba divers, the people who want to dive, tell them to come to Santo.

Tania Nugent: Diving is at the centre of Santo’s tourism industry, thanks to another relic from the islands World War Two past - the SS President Coolidge, which sank after coming under friendly fire just 100 metres off the shore. It’s now the world’s most accessible wreck dive.

Dave Cross, Santo Tourism Association: Tourism on this island is directly related to that ship going down in 1942.

Tania Nugent: It was diving that brought Dave Cross here from Sydney over a decade ago. He’s now a local resort owner and President of the Santo Tourism Association.

Dave Cross: The expat relationship with the indigenous people is very important. We need to train people and we need to respect the culture and custom.

I would like to see as they have in Fiji, partnerships of ni-Vanutu and expats. It doesn’t exist here at the moment. I think that would work particularly well in giving the ni-Vanuatu people the opportunity of being very engaged in the businesses.

Luke Tokar: Well I think tourism is very good for the people because tourism is for everybody. Starting from the top level to the grass roots level, they all benefit.

Stall holder: Most of us are living without jobs, so when the tourist boat comes it’s a chance for us to sell in order to find money to serve our family.