The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) welcomes the news that Cabinet has approved the institutional mechanism for the Tourism Development Programme in Vanua Levu.
This programme, which aims to build sustainable economic growth in the region through destination development, investments in resilient infrastructure and essential services, an improved tourism-enabling environment, and institutional coordination, has been long-awaited by the tourism industry in Vanua Levu.
At a time when the tourism industry has been working hard to gain back lost ground, it is also cognizant of the need for urgent new development projects that will provide the required impetus for investor confidence, especially in areas that have been identified for sustainable tourism opportunities.
With financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association facility, the programme promises to support integrated, resilient, and sustainable tourism development in Vanua Levu.
FHTA believes that the development will have a significantly positive impact on the region’s tourism industry by attracting more visitors to the region, creating more business opportunities for local operators, providing more jobs and boosting economic growth in the area with a natural spill-over into the national economy.
“We are thrilled to hear that the Tourism Development Programme in Vanua Levu has finally been confirmed,” said Fantasha Lockington, FHTA Chief Executive Officer. “We know this is what the region so desperately needs while being perfectly located for the development it is earmarked for.”
Tourism operators in Vanua Levu are excited to see how the programme will unfold and look forward to working closely with Government to make it a success.
