Fiji Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Regional Tourism and Aviation Connectivity

Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga – 22 October 2025 – “If we are serious about improving connectivity, we must strengthen our aviation regulators and ensure tourism and aviation planning go hand in hand. This is how we build a truly connected and resilient Pacific.”

These were the sentiments of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Viliame Gavoka as he joined regional leaders at the Ministerial Dialogue on Connecting Tourism and Aviation in Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Hosted by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the event brought together Ministers, senior government officials and aviation executives to discuss pathways in enhancing coordination between the tourism and aviation sectors across the Blue Pacific continent.

In his contribution, Deputy Prime Minister Gavoka emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among regional bodies such as SPTO, the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA), and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted Fiji’s integrated approach — bringing tourism and civil aviation under one ministry — as a model for aligning air connectivity with tourism growth.  He also welcomed SPTO’s Tourism and Aviation Strategy 2026–2030, calling for development partners to support its implementation through investments in data systems, institutional capacity building, and sustainable aviation infrastructure.

“Our goal is a connected Pacific that moves together, prospers together, and ensures no one is left behind,” he concluded.

ENDS

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