𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭

𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘢’𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢 𝘝𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘶 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵

𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢, 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝟏𝟖 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, today officially launched the Macuata Tourism Association at Nukubati Great Sea Reef Resort in Naduri, Macuata.

The former President of the Republic of Fiji and Turaga na Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, attended the launch. The event was hosted by Peter and Jenny Bourke, founders and owners of Nukubati Island Resort and the Macuata Tourism Association.

“Tourism in Macuata did not start this week. It started in 1975, when the Labasa Tourism Association was formed,” Hon. Gavoka said.

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged Mr Paul Jaduram MBE, who has worked for tourism in Macuata and the North since 1975. “Paul, the association we launch today stands on ground you cleared. On behalf of Government, vinaka vakalevu,” he said.

The Association brings together resort owners, homestay operators, guides, transport providers, landowners, women, youth and communities. “It gives the North a single voice on tourism, and it gives Government a single door to knock on,” Hon. Gavoka said. He asked the Association to work closely with the Ministry, local authorities and development partners, and to tell Government where policy is not working on the ground.

Hon. Gavoka pointed to Cakaulevu, the Great Sea Reef, which he described as the third largest continuous barrier reef in the world, along with the province’s coastline, islands, rivers, forests and culture. “The test I will apply to every project is simple: how much of the money stays in the North?” he said.

He said roads, jetties, maritime access, water, electricity, telecommunications and waste management must come first. “I want that infrastructure planned for two users at once: the visitor, and the family that lives on that road every day of the year,” Hon. Gavoka said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Government is strengthening sustainable tourism across Vanua Levu and Taveuni through the World Bank-funded Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu, known as the Na Vualiku Project. He described the Association as the link between the programme and the people of the province. “You are the bridge. You know the mataqali, the villages, the operators and the sites,” he said.

Hon. Gavoka said tourism can be a second engine for the North alongside agriculture, fisheries and forestry. “Every extra night in Macuata is income for a driver, a cook, a guide, a farmer and a craftsperson,” he said.

He urged young people in the North to aim for ownership as well as employment. “Some of you will work in a resort. Some of you will own the tour company that the resort books. I want more of you in the second group,” Hon. Gavoka said. He committed the Ministry to support women-led enterprises, community-based tourism and skills training as a priority.

“The first 51 years kept the door open. The next 50 are for building a stronger, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism economy for the people of the North,” the Deputy Prime Minister said before declaring the Association officially launched.

– 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 –