Big plans to link Yasawa islands

Listen to this article:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka make his way for the Parliament sitting in Suva on Thursday, August 07, 2025. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

A feasibility study planned for the Yasawa Group is expected to facilitate efficient movement in and around the islands, says Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Viliame Gavoka.

He confirms the study has been approved and will take place before the end of the year.

“For the northern parts, the very far reaches, you might want to go by air there,” he said.

“So, it’s a combination of surface, air, and Yasawa will boom.”

Mr Gavoka envisages that in 10 years, Yasawa will be like Denarau, “when you put everything together, in terms of critical mass and its impact on the economy.”

He said South Sea Cruises services the northern parts of the group right to Nacula.

“There are opportunities that we need to develop, and it’s important that connectivity is improved.

“We’re looking at an airport towards the northern end of the Yasawas.

“We look at the possibilities, the potential for investments. We’ll try to land the ATRs there in that part of the Yasawas.”

For this to eventuate, Mr Gavoka said connectivity would be crucial.

“South Sea Cruises are doing a wonderful job. This will complement what they’re doing because there is huge potential in the Yasawa-i-Rara area.”

He cited the possibility of the initiative being managed under a public private partnership (PPP).

“We’ll see how it goes. We’ll do the feasibility study, and it could be a PPP. There are formulas like that — that we may consider.”

Airports are managed by the Fiji Airports and, Mr Gavoka said they had a master plan that would feature the upgrading of some airports, although the Government would have to subsidise the air services.

“The economics of it do not always work. So, we help the airlines that fly there by making sure they cover their costs.

“South Sea Cruises looks after the area because it has a combination of properties.

“We need to grow that also in the islands like Lau, possibly Lomaiviti.”