Fiji Sun, March 14 – Plans are in the pipeline for improvements in catering for the needs of tourists who call in at the port of Lautoka in the western division.
Lautoka Chambers of Commerce chairman Pyara Singh said since the tourism sector is thriving at the sugar city they need to keep all stakeholders in line.
This follows the regular arrivals of cruise vessels there since January this year.
Last week the 300-passenger tourist vessel Crystal Symphony berthed at Lautoka for a day, six days after Explorer of the Seas paid a day’s visit. Crystal Harmony was on a round the world tour and had visited countries such as Africa, Australia and New Zealand before berthing at Lautoka wharf on March 7, 2018.
Tourists enjoyed the sunny weather, did souvenir shopping much to the pleasure of the business owners and handicraft vendors.
Tour operators were on hand for short tours around the vicinity.
“Lautoka is one city that has a lot benefits when it comes to attracting tourists, there are a lot of history and the scen¬ery is beautiful,” Mr Singh said.
“With the Nadi Airport as our neighbour it is a good marketing promotion that tourists can return to spend more time in our country later,” he said.
“It very good that Lautoka port is also contributing to the tourism industry as one of the stopovers for cruise ships, seeing that there is one in port every two weeks.
“To have more than 300 tourists coming to Lautoka at one time is a boost to our locals and is beneficial to many sections from tour guides to one selling fresh coconut juice (bu).”
“We hope to engage live bands and entertainers to welcome and bid farewell to tourists,” he said.
Crystal Symphony was built in 1995 at Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland, she is the sister ship of Crystal Serenity.
