𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

The President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, today received a courtesy call from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Honourable Viliame Gavoka, at State House.

The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by the Fiji Airports Limited Board Chair, Mr. Hasmukh Patel; Na Vualiku Project Manager, Mr. Marlon Lezama; Director for Tourism, Ms. Jacinta Lal; and Kelepi Dainaki, General Manager Assets & Infrastructure (Fiji Airports) and Tevita Cokanasiga Roko Tui Saravanua.

The purpose of the visit was to brief the Head of State on the implementation of the World Bank funded Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu, known as ‘Na Vualiku’ (the Project).

The Na Vualiku Project aims to:

· Strengthen targeted infrastructure and essential services,

· Enhance coordination and encourage private sector participation in tourism and

· Improve the environmental sustainability of tourism assets.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA) is the lead implementing agency, with support from the Fiji Roads Authority, Fiji Airports Limited, and the Savusavu Town Council.

This initiative supports sustainable tourism development and is expected to yield significant environmental benefits through investments in resilient tourism infrastructure, nature-based tourism attractions, and critical facilities and services, such as waste and sewage management. The Project also seeks to harness the untapped productive potential of Fijian women in the tourism sector.

President Lalabalavu thanked the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation for the visit and acknowledged the importance of such collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable tourism and economic development in Vanua Levu. He expressed his full support and confirmed his willingness to do his part in the implementation of the project.