Spread success of tourism – PM

Listen to this article:

Team South Sea Cruises with the Tour & Transport Operators award at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau in Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH

PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has encouraged the tourism industry to help spread its success to every Fijian community.

Mr Bainimarama said while the industry had been instrumental in providing employment to thousands of Fijians, there were some that were still trying to benefit from the industry.

“Fijians across the country feel the benefits as well, they secure jobs, they are able to drive on new roads, cross new bridges and welcome new developments but if you’re a family struggling to make ends meet in Bua, a canefarmer toiling day in and day out in Lautoka, or a student fresh from university seeking their first full-time position, are you really feeling the full benefits this industry can offer?,” the prime minister asked more than 200 industry professionals at the 2018 Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards over the weekend.

“Not always. In fact, I think there are thousands of Fijians who have been on the fringes of our tourism development for far too long and that is why I’m a big fan of this evening’s theme, ‘Tourism Benefiting All Fijians’.

Not some Fijians, or some big, overseas companies, but all Fijians everywhere in Fiji.”

He said the industry could assist by employing local farmers to supply fresh produce to their resorts.

“We currently meet 48 per cent of the fresh produce needs in our hotels with domestically grown produce, up from only 20 per cent in 2011.

“That’s good, it’s not great. That percentage should be much higher and our farmers in Fiji could be earning a whole lot more.

“That’s not a fantasy, it is possible. In fact, it’s already happening and I want to give credit to the Outrigger Resort, Castaway, Treasure Island Resort among others for leading the charge in sourcing from local farmers.

“Impressively, up to 90 per cent of their produce is ‘Fijian Grown’.”

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 29
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category