THE contribution of TravelOnline, an Australian tour operator, to the Koropita Model Town was acknowledged on Thursday with the board of trustees naming a street in its honour.
The prominent tour operator annually transports more than 27,000 passengers to Fiji in collaboration with its ground operator partner Rosie Holidays.
The company has so far invested $250,000 into the Koroipita community.
In 2019, the TravelOnline management team took part in a Rosie Holidays’ community outreach initiative constructing homes in the model township.
Koroipita, outside Lautoka, comprises more than 300 houses and 1330 residents, primarily from low-income families who benefit from the security of cyclone-certified housing, access to running water, electricity, recreational amenities and supported income generating and advancement projects.
When the borders reopened in 2023 after COVID, TravelOnline visited Koroipita and granted a long-term contract to the Koroipita Micro-enterprise Sewing Boutique to create cotton beach bags that would be gifted to every TravelOnline client arriving in Fiji.
Each cotton tote is crafted with a distinctive tropical pattern using machine stitching and comes with a welcome card that narrates the Koroipita story. The boutique has created more than 12,000 beach bags, leading to sales revenue exceeding $250,000 and offering full-time jobs to four women in the community.
TravelOnline managing director Glenn Checkley said they were aware of the impact COVID-19 had on the Fijian tourism industry and Fiji’s economy.
“As part of our commitment to help everyday Fijians, we donated new sewing machines and the Family Advancement Ministries team together with Sewaid provided training,” Mr Checkley said.
“Now, four women are employed full time. These bags are handmade with love by an amazing group of women living in Koroipita and it is just one of the ways we have found to support everyday Fijians that are so dear to our hearts.”
Rosie Holidays managing director and trustee of Koroipita Model Town, Tony Whitton, said the Beach Bag project was another example of how the tourism dollar circulates to everyone in Fiji.
“TravelOnline shares our belief that tourism has the power to improve the social and economic well-being of every Fijian,” Mr Whitton said.
“We have been involved in Koroipita for over 20 years building homes, pathways, playgrounds and even their kindergarten.
“Over this time, we have been able to introduce many of our global tourism partners to projects like this, and when a synergy is found, it results in the betterment of lives, even in remote communities.”
General manager of Koroipita Model Towns, Paul Forrest said the arrangement with TravelOnline was very much valued, as apart from providing a living for four families, it created an opportunity for young people to come and learn skills that could lead to employment elsewhere in the garment industry or help them become budding entrepreneurs.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated May 10, 2025
