FHTA Tourism Talanoa: What Do Partnerships Really Look Like?

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, 16 April 2025 – As someone who has had the privilege of working within Fiji’s tourism industry for many years, I’ve seen firsthand just how resilient, innovative, and driven our sector can be.

We are, after all, the economic heartbeat of this nation—contributing significantly to employment, investment, and foreign exchange earnings. But with that influence comes an equally important responsibility: to grow in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Plus we are really supportive of efforts to diversify the economy and we want to learn more about how this is progressing and whether we can contribute in some way.

That’s why events like our upcoming Tourism Leaders Breakfast—taking place on Tuesday, 22 April 2025—are more than just networking opportunities. They are vital touchpoints for shaping how we, as a collective industry, navigate challenges and align with government priorities.

They’re about stepping back from the day-to-day and coming together as decision makers to focus on what really matters for the future.

At this Breakfast, we’re thrilled to be joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, whose support for economic diversification and open-door approach to dialogue has been instrumental in building stronger bridges between the public and private sectors.

With the National Budget announcement in June looming large on the horizon, this event could not be more timely.

Tourism doesn’t operate in isolation. From infrastructure and immigration to trade, environment, and education—our industry is deeply interconnected with almost every arm of government, and all its regulatory agencies whether we like it or not.

This is why it is so important that our voices – as operators and business leaders – are heard when major economic and policy decisions are being made.

The FHTA Leaders Breakfast aims to do exactly that: provide a space to hear how those diversification plans are going and where investment opportunities are taking shape. General Managers, senior executives, and tourism leaders can gather in the same room to have honest, strategic conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs more attention.

We often say, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This is our chance to pull up a seat at that table. The lead-up to any National Budget always brings with it a fair share of speculation and concern.

Will tax policy shift again?

Will there be incentives to support infrastructure upgrades?

How will the Government support workforce development, or address the snail’s pace that many investment projects seem to move in? These questions aren’t just interesting—they’re crucial.

While we need them, investors are not just foreigners starting out from scratch with lofty goals and exciting plans. There are a diverse group of local investors – businesses from other industries including tourism, that are also investing heavily into this economy.

Small, medium and large-scale properties and operations, are constantly assessing cost structures, staffing capacity, and investment timelines for their own expansion plans.

Clear signals from Government might be few and far between, whether only through the annual budget or directly through consultations. But these can make all the difference in whether or not a business decides to reinvest, expand, or restructure.

When direct foreign investment is slow – bogged down by the usual red tape that plagues most development processes; it is usually our own local businesses that shoulder economic progress.

We hope to gain insights directly from the Honourable Minister on the Government’s fiscal and investment priorities, and—just as importantly—communicate what tourism operators on the ground are facing. Some of those challenges include ongoing workforce shortages, which, despite training and upskilling efforts, continue to place strain on operational capacity.

Others are more nuanced, like logistical bottlenecks in supply lines to outer islands, or how small operators can gain better access to sustainability financing. It is these ‘unfiltered’ insights we hope to surface—real, tangible issues that may not yet be on the radar of policymakers – or have been there without any inroads being made – but are absolutely critical to our day-to-day operations and long-term viability.

Sustainability is not just about going green—it’s about economic resilience, cultural integrity, and future-proofing our industry. The world is increasingly looking for destinations that are not only beautiful but are also run responsibly.

Visitors want to know that their experience contributes positively to local communities, respects the environment, and leaves a minimal footprint. We’ve seen this in action through several of our members’ initiatives—whether that’s renewable energy installations, waste-reduction programs, or community partnerships that showcase authentic Fijian culture.

But as an industry, we know we can—and must—do more. This is another important reason for bringing industry and government together: to ensure policy frameworks, grant programs, and infrastructure plans support sustainable growth in a practical and inclusive way. Sustainability must be more than an individual effort—it needs to be systemic and collaborative.

I also know how busy our industry is.

The pressures of maintaining occupancy, managing guest experiences, meeting compliance requirements, and looking after our teams can often mean we’re running from task to task, day after day. However, we’re not that busy that we’re not aware of the impacts of global economic pressures that affect us negatively, with consistently increasing freight costs and the dizzying reality of on-again, off-again trade tariffs that may or may not help us.

It might not be another emergency crisis – which is when we usually get together to have these discussions; but taking a strategic pause to gather perspectives, recalibrate, and consider what kind of future we’re collectively building is always timely.

It’s also a time to reconnect with industry peers—to catch up with old and new industry associates, discuss emerging trends or bring fresh ideas to the table. We want to make those introductions, share insights, and maybe even find alignment on projects or issues we didn’t know others were also grappling with.

Seats are limited—and for good reason. We want to keep this gathering targeted and relevant for people directly or indirectly involved in tourism.

Book your seat and have a say.

This session is just one part of our ongoing effort to ensure the tourism industry in Fiji remains strong, sustainable, and inclusive. We are committed to facilitating these types of platforms that elevate our stakeholder concerns, celebrate innovative efforts, and amplify successes.

But we also recognise that none of this can happen in silos. We need strong partnerships with Government, consistent collaboration with private stakeholders, and a shared vision for the future.

So I do hope you’ll join us—not just to listen, but to contribute. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the challenges of the past few years, it’s that we are stronger when we face the future together.

See you at breakfast.
Fantasha Lockington – CEO, FHTA (Published in the Fiji Times on 16 April 2025)