The first of three projects planned over 10 years to help Fiji deliver its vision for more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient tourism across the country, the World Bank funded Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu is set to benefit 60,000 people.
“This World Bank-funded program will also help to increase Fiji’s marketability both domestically and internationally, while adopting a community-centered approach to ensure the sustainable management of our precious local resources,” said Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad.
A media release from the World Bank yesterday said the new program aimed to bolster the sector’s resilience to multiple shocks by strengthening tourism service capacity, attracting private investments, creating employment opportunities – particularly for women; and increase government revenue.
World Bank country manager for Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, Stefano Mocci, highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of the program, extending beyond the tourism sector and contributing to the overall socio-economic development and environmental sustainability of the region.
The World Bank shared that the new project’s financing of $US61.5 million ($F137m) for the first phase was part of a larger $US200m ($F447m) envelop approved for the ten-year multi-stage tourism program for Vanua Levu.
