THE 1.25 million visitor target and $4 billion revenue earnings targeted for next year by Fiji’s tourism industry are achievable only if Fiji grows with discipline.
Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association (FHTA) chief executive officer Fantasha Lockington said more visitors alone should not be the only measure of success, adding the yield, length of stay, visitor spend, local ownership, community benefit, environmental protection, service standards and the resilience of the businesses carrying the industry must also be looked at.
“Fiji does need new rooms. But we also need the workers, infrastructure, utilities, airports, roads, training systems, local suppliers and regulatory settings to support those rooms,” Ms Lockington told this newspaper in response to the target announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka on Thursday.
“The opportunity is not just to build bigger. It is to build smarter, with stronger local participation and better long-term value for Fiji.”
Ms Lockington said the target was ambitious.
“We support the intent because Fiji does need more room inventory if we are serious about growing arrivals and increasing tourism earnings. But “built now” must be understood as a call for urgency, not a suggestion that 4000 rooms can appear overnight.
“Hotel development takes time. It needs land approvals, environmental approvals, infrastructure access, financing, design, construction, skilled labour and then staffing once the property opens.
“The labour shortage is already a real constraint for existing operators. If we are adding new rooms, we also need to plan for the people who will build them and the people who will run them.
“That means training, work permits where needed, housing, transport, productivity and stronger pathways for Fijians into tourism careers.
“So yes, the target is necessary, but the timeline must be realistic. We need a coordinated national delivery plan, otherwise the risk is that we announce growth faster than we can build the foundations for it.”
Ms Lockington said the 4000 new rooms being targeted also required serious infrastructure planning.
“Luxury hotel rooms are not light users of water, power, roads, wastewater systems, solid waste services and emergency services.
“They also create wider demand through staff housing, transport, food supply, laundry, maintenance and community services.
“This does not mean Fiji should not grow. it means growth must be planned properly.”
