A fundraiser designed to boost the Sigatoka sand dunes efforts in obtaining World Heritage Site listing has raised about $46,000.

Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa’s Sands of Time benefit dinner held last month raked in $45,934 and general manager Craig Powell has acknowledged the support of corporate sponsors, Bilo Bar Club members and the diplomatic corps for the event’s success.

“At the outset we must acknowledge the lead role that our own unique guest loyalty club, our Bilo Bar Trust, took in pledging $30,000 to this project during their annual general meeting last October,” he said.

“The outcome of this event speaks volumes for the importance lent to our only national park and we hope that we have been able to raise enough awareness of the importance of this site to keep this momentum going.”

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is one of eight heritage sites managed by the National Trust of Fiji Islands and is the most visited site on Viti Levu.

Shangri-La’s Fijian resort and Spa communications manager Lata Yaqona said the funds raised plus a $10,000 contribution from the Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association’s Coral Coast chapter would be used to complete a perimeter fence, upgrade the visitor’s centre with the inclusion of a coffee shop and construction of a gallery or mini-museum.

The perimeter fence is scheduled to be commissioned in November and the revamped facility is expected to be completed next year.