Suva Fiji October 9, 2025 — With contracts valued at over FJ$22 million already signed and more major procurements in the pipeline, the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu (Na Vualiku Project) is gaining momentum towards building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism economy for Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

The World Bank, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA), has successfully concluded the fifth implementation support mission for the Program. Held from 28 September to 9 October 2025, the mission brought together government ministries, development partners, provincial councils, community leaders, and the private sector to take stock, share insights and confirm next steps and advance Fiji’s tourism transformation in the North.

Over twelve days, the World Bank mission team engaged in site visits, stakeholder consultations, and technical meetings across Nadi, Labasa, Savusavu and Suva.

Discussions focused on critical infrastructure works, sustainable tourism planning, environmental safeguards, and targeted support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women-led entrepreneurs, and community-based tourism organizations. Field inspections at Labasa and Savusavu airports, the Labasa–Savusavu scenic road, and Waisali Forest Reserve allowed the team to witness first-hand the current status and identify priority areas for further investment.

Key program milestones were highlighted during the mission. Work on the Integrated Tourism Master Plan (ITMP) has commenced with a team of technical specialists engaged via a consortium of Hidria and IOS Partners. This Master Plan will deliver a 25-year phased development framework for the Northern Division, alongside detailed 5-year development plans for key tourism areas including Savusavu and surrounding areas, the Natewa Peninsula and Natewa Bay, Labasa, and Taveuni.

In parallel, a pilot community-based tourism grant scheme is set to launch before the end of the year to support small tourism-related infrastructure in communities to help them improve their tourism products and the economic benefits flowing from tourism to local communities.

Infrastructure development remains a cornerstone of the program. Design and supervision contracts for the Labasa and Savusavu airport upgrades have been awarded,

while procurement for a remote tower system and feasibility study of a potential new domestic airport is underway. The Labasa–Savusavu road upgrade has now entered a 12-month design and supervision phase, marking a major step to enhancing visitor access, safety and amenities. Complementary initiatives, including a wastewater and sanitation investment strategy for Savusavu and a feasibility study for solar installations on public buildings, underscore the Project’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable growth.

Capacity-building and data collection initiatives are also moving forward. The upgraded International Visitor Survey (IVS) is in the field, with initial results expected in early 2026, while a Baseline Survey to establish socio-economic benchmarks for the Program will begin shortly.

Speaking at the conclusion of the mission, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Viliame Gavoka noted: “This mission was about listening, validating, and coordinating with our communities and partners. The work in Vanua Levu must reflect not only the promise of growth, but also the values of inclusion, resilience, and sustainability that define Fiji’s vision for tourism.”

The mission concluded in Suva with wrap-up meetings involving the Ministry of Finance, implementing agencies, and development partners, reaffirming a coordinated pathway forward. With momentum building and major infrastructure investments on the horizon, the Project is accelerating efforts toward delivering lasting economic opportunities, improved connectivity, and enhanced environmental safeguards for Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

– Ends –

💧♻️ The Na Vualiku Project and World Bank team, as part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, met with the Water Authority of Fiji, the Savusavu Town Council, and local partners to finalise the Wastewater and Sanitation Investment Plan and advance discussions on Solid Waste management.

🚿💧🛠️♻️Wastewater and Sanitation
The plan will guide upcoming infrastructure upgrades, identify pilot projects, and improve sanitation services to support Savusavu’s growing population and tourism economy.

🗑️♻️🚛🌿Solid Waste Management
The teams advanced discussions on improving solid waste management. Design works are now underway to enhance waste collection and disposal in Savusavu, Labasa, and Taveuni, helping maintain cleaner towns and protect the environment.

As part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, teams from the Na Vualiku Project and the World Bank met with the Savusavu Town Council and provincial leaders to discuss key development priorities.

Key topics included:

🔆 Solar Energy for Public Buildings
A feasibility study, set to be awarded by October 2025, will explore renewable energy options to power public infrastructure.

💧 Wastewater & Sanitation Upgrades
Plans are underway to improve systems that protect community health and safeguard the marine environment.

🌿 Cityscaping to Enhance Savusavu’s Identity
Beautification projects aim to strengthen the town’s unique character and livability.

Together, these efforts mark a continued commitment to building a resilient, vibrant Savusavu.

The project is supporting work by Airports Fiji to improve the airports of Labasa and Savusavu.

🌿 The Na Vualiku Project and the World Bank team, as part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, visited the Waisali Forest Reserve on October 2, 2025.

Plans are underway to build a new Visitor Centre and walking trails, creating safer, more enjoyable experiences for tourists while promoting eco-tourism.

This project will be delivered in partnership with the National Trust of Fiji and local communities, ensuring both conservation and economic opportunities for villages nearby.

#SustainableTourism #EcoFiji #VanuaLevu

🚧 The Na Vualiku Project and the WorldBank team, as part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, joined the Fiji Roads Authority and WAPCOS to review progress on the Labasa–Savusavu road upgrade and coastal protection works.

This  will improve road safety, add scenic stopping points, and make Vanua Levu more accessible for visitors and communities.

The coastal protection measures will also help safeguard the road and nearby villages against climate change impacts such as erosion and flooding.

10 September, 2025 – Suva, Fiji – Fiji will soon have its first Integrated Tourism Master Plan for Vanua Levu, a twenty-five year blueprint to transform the North into a leading sustainable tourism destination.

To develop this Master Plan, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has appointed HIDRIA-IOS, a joint venture between HIDRIA Ciencia Ambiente y Desarrollo of Spain and IOS Partners of the United States, with EcoConsult Pacific of Fiji as subconsultant, under the World Bank-financed Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu (Na Vualiku Project).

The Master Plan will provide a comprehensive framework for growth across Savusavu, Labasa, Taveuni and the Natewa Peninsula. It will ensure that development is resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart, aligning new public and private investments with the protection of Vanua Levu’s unique natural and cultural assets, while creating economic opportunities for local communities.

Tourism in Vanua Levu has significant untapped potential. Although it attracts some of Fiji’s highest-spending visitors, it currently accounts for only a small share of international arrivals. The Master Plan will chart a course to unlock this potential by improving access, diversifying visitor experiences, and building the foundations for sustainable, community-based tourism that benefits all Fijians, with a particular focus on opportunities for women entrepreneurs and community-based tourism organisations.

The consultancy will run for sixteen months and be delivered in eight phases. Starting with data collection and assessments, it will move through growth forecasts, development options, and detailed town plans, before tackling infrastructure planning, marketing, institutional reforms and training. The Master Plan is expected to be completed by January, 2027. 

The Plan will be developed through extensive stakeholder engagement across Vanua Levu and Taveuni, including workshops and talanoa sessions, to place communities, civil society, and the private sector at the centre of the process.

The consortium brings together a wealth of international and local expertise. HIDRIA has more than two decades of experience in sustainable tourism, environmental planning and master planning across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. IOS Partners contributes deep knowledge of infrastructure, aviation, and economic planning, with prior experience in Fiji and other Small Island Developing States. EcoConsult Pacific adds local expertise and networks, ensuring the Master Plan is firmly grounded in the realities and aspirations of communities in Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon Viliame Gavoka, welcomed the HIDRIA-IOS team to Fiji to begin the groundwork.

“The Integrated Tourism Master Plan will be a milestone for Vanua Levu and the Northern Division. It will give us a clear direction for tourism growth that protects our environment, supports our people, and creates opportunities for future generations,” he said.

“The appointment of HIDRIA-IOS, supported by EcoConsult Pacific, reflects our commitment to combining world-class expertise with deep local knowledge. This Master Plan is not just about visitor numbers. It is about people, culture and resilience and together, we will chart a course for climate-smart, inclusive tourism that benefits every Fijian in the North,” he added.

From today, the HIDRIA-IOS team is on the ground in Vanua Levu to begin their initial work and community consultations. The Ministry invites all stakeholders and communities across Vanua Levu to take part in shaping this Master Plan.

The government is stepping up road upgrades on Vanua Levu to boost safety and improve access along key routes.

Major works will focus on the Nabouwalu to Labasa corridor and the Savusavu Highway.

Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the Fiji Roads Authority would strengthen critical parts of the 70-kilometre stretch between Nabouwalu and Dreketi, including about eight kilometres between Matasawalevu and Naua Bridges.

He adds that the plan also covers repairs from Savusavu Junction to Seaqaqa and from Seaqaqa to Labasa to fix long-standing road surface problems.

“The FRA will undertake substantial upgrading works around the S-Band area, hill sections, and black spots between Seaqaqa and Savusavu. These upgrades are designed to improve safety, reduce accident-prone zones, and facilitate smooth traffic flow.”

Ro Filipe highlights upgrades around the S-Band area and hill sections to reduce accidents and ease traffic.

On concerns about landslides, the Minister confirmed the Lomaloma slip on the Seaqaqa-Savusavu route is stable and open to all vehicles.

The FRA continues to monitor and maintain the area as part of its regular upkeep.

News source: https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/vanua-levu-roads-to-benefit-from-extensive-repairs/

Significant efforts are underway to transform Savusavu – including installation of CCTV cameras and more foot patrols by Police to improve safety, proper landfill and a centralised sewerage treatment plant and parking meters in the town.

This has been highlighted by Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa during the debate on Consolidated Review Report of the Savusavu Town Council 2014 and 2015 Annual Reports.

He says to strengthen the approach on drug-related issues, the Council has conducted meetings with the Divisional Police Commander Northern and the Officer in Charge of Savusavu Police Station regarding police visibility in town, especially on weekends, and increasing foot patrols in hotspot areas.

Nalumisa says the Council has provided a location for a new police post in town.

The Minister further says that under the Na Vualiku Project, funded by the World Bank, they have identified a proposed site in the Savudrodro area for a proper landfill in Savusavu and a budget of $6.75 million has been allocated.

He says a feasibility study will be conducted by environmental consultants.

Nalimisa also says that a centralised sewerage treatment plant is also part of the Na Vualiku Project and relevant stakeholders and the working group are collaborating to ensure the project is implemented efficiently.

He further says the Ministry has also consented to the redevelopment of Ratu Ganilau Park in partnership with the Fiji Sports Council where terms and conditions have been discussed by both parties.

The Minister says the Council will continue to explore public-private partnerships.

Nalumisa also says that as of 30 June 2025, the Town Council has collected 71.31 percent of the rates that were in arrears, and as part of efforts to boost revenue, 10 digital parking meters have been procured for Savusavu Town, with plans approved but awaiting gazetting.

Continue reading news: https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Major-safety-and-infrastructure-upgrades-planned-for-Savusavu—Nalumisa-5fr48x/