Fiji’s hospitality industry must continue evolving by embracing inclusion, innovation and sustainability while preserving the warmth and genuine care that define the country’s renowned Bula Spirit, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Civil Aviation Salaseini Daunabuna says.
Opening the 2026 National Hospitality Conference at the Tanoa International Hotel, Ms Daunabuna said maintaining Fiji’s global reputation required businesses to remove barriers to accessibility and create workplaces and services that cater to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Held under the theme Service Without Barriers: Empowering Diversity in Business and Service Excellence, the conference brought together tourism leaders, educators and government representatives to discuss the future of the industry.
Ms Daunabuna said technology, including artificial intelligence and digital platforms, should enhance rather than replace the human connection that makes Fiji unique. She also stressed that sustainable practices, renewable energy and climate-conscious operations were now essential for the industry’s long-term success.
She highlighted Government initiatives supporting the sector, including the Tourism Act 2026, the Civil Aviation Master Plan 2026-2031 and the Pilot Tourism Micro and Small Enterprise Fund.
Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said tourism remained a key driver of economic growth, supporting families, businesses and communities. She reaffirmed FNU’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates to meet the sector’s evolving workforce needs.
