SHORT INFORMATION

Money & duty free for Tuvalu

Australian and Tuvaluan currency are both in use, but transactions over A$1 are always conducted in Australian Dollars. For details of Australian Dollar denominations and exchange rates, see the Australia section.

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Culture of Tuvalu

The traditional buildings of Tuvalu used plants and trees from the native broadleaf forest, including timber from: Pouka, (Hernandia peltata); Ngia or Ingia bush, (Pemphis acidula); Miro, (Thespesia populnea); Tonga, (Rhizophora mucronata); Fau or Fo fafini, or woman's fibre tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus).and fibre from: coconut; Ferra, native fig (Ficus aspem); Fala, screw pine or Pandanus. The buildings were constructed without nails and were lashed and tied together with a plaited sennit rope that was handmade from dried coconut fibre.

SHORT INFORMATION

Overview of Tuvalu

Officially name: Tuvalu

Capital: Funafuti

Official language: Tuvaluan, English

Government: Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional monarchy