Many of Fiji’s tourists come from countries that are increasingly cash-less, making it sensible to have reputable international providers such as Stripe, PayPal and Flywire available to Fiji businesses.
This, said MSME Council chair Watesoni Nata Jr, would open up access to numerous global bookings and sales platforms for businesses here to receive payments direct into their Fiji bank accounts.
“We are still amazed that COVID did not solve this issue for our industry,” Mr Nata, who spoke at the Fiji Tourism Convention 2024 in Nadi on Thursday, said.
“Currently most businesses that use online payment gateways rely on offshore businesses and accounts to channel revenue through.”
Mr Nata said this needed to be addressed urgently to open up a significant market opportunity for small and community-based businesses.
He also said there was a need to improve incentives for businesses to take on conservation leases.
“The Government and TLTB should welcome and support tourism operators who want to protect land.
“The incentives/rationale for businesses to take out conservation leases needs to be reviewed.
“Where tourism businesses are taking out conservation leases which are done to support environmental conservation principles, these should not be viewed as tourism leases and should be appropriately valued including recognition of the ecosystem services being conserved.”
