THE Suva Curio Handicraft Centre that once was the most visited site by the tourists and those seeking to experience the array of Fijian and Indo-Fijian souvenirs has become quiet and empty.
The president of the Suva Handicraft Market Vendors and Manufacturers Association Mahendra Singh told this newspaper that due to the drop in tourists and lack of local marketing, vendors are now struggling while some are forced to shut their stalls.
“Here in city, whenever the tourist ships come to the Suva port, most of the tourists are being pre-booked for their tours and taken to the hotels and resorts,” he said.
He said there are 71 stalls in total, and all are occupied by the vendors. However, most of these vendors are owing arrears to the Suva City Council (SCC) due to not being able to pay their rents because, of no sales.
“We open late, we take our time, and we come only for a couple of hours, by 3pm, everyone has gone home. There are no sales and no business. The tourists are simply not coming into the handicraft centre,” he said.
Mr Singh has pleaded and urged the government and the SCC to waive the stall fees and the arrears of the vendors until their businesses are stabilised.
He said the previous government had waived these fees before.
“Like the previous government, during the last election, they had completely waived the stall fees right from the first budget to the next budget. So, it was a good saver for us and there were a lot of relief for us. And I hope this government here, in the next budget, does the same,” he said.
However, he said they have written their grievances and raised concerns to the SCC so many times, but nothing has been done to date.
Questions had been sent to the SCC, and no response has been given yet.
