Handicraft vendors in Suva are calling on tour operators to consider their livelihoods after tourists from a visiting cruise ship were whisked to retail giants Tappoos and Jacks of Fiji when they disembarked.

Suva Handicraft Market Vendors and Manufacturers Association president Mahendra Singh said vendors were not excited about visiting vessels anymore because they were getting a piece of the pie.

He was referring to the arrival of American cruise liner Celebrity Eclipse at the Port of Suva on Tuesday.

In a bid to understand the magnitude of the problem, The Fiji Times spoke to handicraft sellers — on the condition of anonymity — who claimed they were unable to earn anything because tourists were immediately diverted to Tappoos and Jacks.

Mr Singh said for the past 63 years, handicraft sellers have been dealing with tourists.

“When tourists come out of the port at 8am the buses are already lined up waiting to pick them up,” he said.

“If the buses can also bring tourists to the handicraft center, it would be much fairer, so we can also make sales.

“They should bring the tourists into the city area. I will also speak to the Suva City Council CEO about this issue.

“It should be a win-win situation for everyone.” A vendor who spoke to this newspaper yesterday said the handicraft business used to thrive in the past.

“Fifteen years ago there was a free movement for tourists, but now it’s like they are being restricted to a certain area only,” he said.

“We always try to keep our hopes high that at the end of the day we will take something back home.

“But we did not make any sales from the tourists that came on Tuesday, no sale at all.”

Suva Retailers Association president Jitesh Patel said they have held discussions with the Suva City Council and Tourism Minister on the issue.

“We need more attractions in the city for the tourists and the reason they are going on tour buses outside the city is because the tourists have been saying there is nothing much in the city other than the Fiji Museum,” he said.

“So if we can put up some local food stalls at Thurston Gardens for them to sample local delicacies, it would be good for the tourists.

“They could stay in the city and move around.”

Questions sent to Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka on the concerns raised by the vendors remained unanswered when this edition went to press.