Lose pay in travelling around this island region (9)
I believe the answer is:
polynesia
'this island region' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'lose pay in travelling' is the wordplay.
'travelling' is an anagram indicator.
'lose'+'pay'+'in'='losepayin'
'losepayin' with letters rearranged gives 'POLYNESIA'.
'around' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for polynesia that I've seen before include "Extensive group of Pacific islands" , "The islands of eastern Oceania" , "part embracing South Pacific" , "Pacific island group" , "Pacific region?" .)