AFTER more than 50 years, the laws governing Fiji’s tourism industry have been renewed.
Parliament passed the Tourism Bill 2026 – one of several fast-tracked Bills passed unanimously this week – replacing the outdated legal framework that has governed the sector since the Hotels and Guest Houses Act 1973.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka said the new law would modernise Fiji’s tourism industry through stronger standards, improved investment, accountability, and greater protection of indigenous culture and traditional knowledge.
“The Bill also sets up a National Tourism Council, introduces national tourism standards, and creates a Tourism Fund to support infrastructure, training, and community-based tourism operators,” Mr Gavoka said.
“This Bill seeks to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for tourism to promote practices that support sustained economic growth while protecting the environment and preserving cultural heritage.”
Mr Gavoka said the law also recognised the importance of smaller operators and community-based tourism.
However, Opposition parliamentarian Premila Kumar raised strong concerns about the Bill, saying Parliament had been given very little time to properly scrutinise the legislation.
She said tourism was the backbone of Fiji’s economy and supported families, rural communities and small businesses, and therefore deserved careful and detailed lawmaking.
“While I support the need to modernise the outdated Hotels and Guest Houses Act 1973, the new Bill gives excessive power to the minister, weakens accountability, and lacks clear safeguards.”
She said the Bill allowed the minister to establish a framework for tourism investment in collaboration with Investment Fiji but used the word “may” instead of “must”.
“This means there is no obligation to act and no accountability if nothing is done.”
She said the Bill did not provide strong enough protection for MSMEs and community tourism operators, and lacked clear safeguards for culture, the environment and climate action.
