THE inclusion of short-term holiday rentals such as airbnb’s in the Tourism Act 2026 has been welcomed by tourism stakeholders.
Tourism consultant Pramesh Kumar said the Act which was passed by Parliament this week was a comprehensive framework that overarches all tourism related legislation and reflected the realities of modern tourism economy.
“Importantly, the inclusion of accommodation platforms such as airbnb means operators will now need to ‘up their game’,” he said.
“For too long, many have operated outside proper legislative and regulatory oversight while traditional operators complied with strict standards and levies.
“The new law brings accountability, compliance, sustainability standards and fairness across the sector.
“It also opens the door for Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to examine how airbnb and short-term rental operators are reporting their business activities for tax purposes.”
He said the Tourism Act 2026 was timely.
“It recognises the evolution of Fiji’s tourism sector while protecting community participation, cultural heritage and industry standards for the future.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka, said the enactment of the Tourism Act 2026 was a direct response to the growth and evolution of the industry.
“Over the last 20 years, Fiji has doubled its visitor numbers,” he said.
“Our communities are more deeply involved in tourism than ever before, and the expectations of travellers and investors alike have changed significantly. It is time our laws reflected that reality.”
