✈️ The Na Vualiku Project and the World Bank team, as part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, inspected Savusavu Airport.

Planned upgrades will improve safety and comfort and for tourism operators and communities in and around Savusavu.

#VanuaLevu #FijiTourism #SustainableGrowth 

🌱 Following the World Bank team’s 5th Implementation Support Mission, the Na Vualiku Project is finalising plans for a pilot program to support community-based sustainable tourism ventures, as well as tourism-related MSMEs and women’s cultural enterprises in Vanua Levu.

Launching later this year, the program will provide grants to finance small infrastructure that will enhance community-based tourism and connect MSMEs and women’s cultural enterprises with business development services to help support business growth.

#InclusiveTourism #FijiMSMEs #WomenInTourism

The Na Vualiku Project team and the World Bank, as part of the 5th Implementation Support Mission, met with the Savusavu Tourism Association to discuss project progress.

Updates focused on air transport and town upgrades, including beautification, traffic management, improving pedestrian safety, and protecting the region’s biodiversity — all key to shaping Savusavu’s future as a hub for sustainable tourism.

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.