DESPITE the lack of formal education, members of the Yasawa Tourism Marketing Cooperative are still building properties worth millions, says Cooperative representative Moala Nata.
He said this was only possible because the businesses are family-bases and often involve multiple generations.
The Yasawa Marketing Cooperative is a collective of resorts and tourism businesses in the Yasawa Islands whose members include Long Beach Hideaway Resort, Bay of Plenty, Safe Landing Resort, Nabua Lodge, Korovou Resort and White Sandy Beach Resort.
“With all due respect of all you people who are highly educated, none of them (Cooperative members) ever finished high school, but they have built properties not less than $2 million seats,” Mr Nata said.
“The lowest value was $2.5m. The other is $15m. These are net asset of all these people, built by their own sweat.
“One thing you’ll notice when you go and visit them during low months when there is little to no tourists, it’s a father, a mother and the grandchildren running the whole place.
“Most of them have survived for 34 years. Three hotels there, they started their business when they left high school, and they are quite successful now.”
He said Cooperative membership have dropped from 34 to 10 members after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Marketing is not a problem. It’s the quality of our product that we have to upgrade. People will come back if they enjoy our product.
“We are trying to standardise and upscale the quality so that we can have returns and returns in our guests.”
Mr Nata said so far, the only competition to them are homestays who are licensed but operating.
Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said the Ministry is looking at ways to get these homestays licensed and regulated.
