Significant progress is underway through the ‘Na Vualiku’ Fiji Tourism Development Programme, aimed at transforming Vanua Levu into a thriving tourism hub.
Starting next month, an Integrated Tourism Master Plan will guide this development by identifying priority areas, outlining funding strategies, and including environmental and social safeguards.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says a proposal will be made this month with the National Trust, local communities, and the private sector to build a visitor centre and create business plans.
He adds that under the program, a contract will be awarded next month for the design and supervision of pavements, fencing, a new terminal at Savusavu, and new fire stations at both airports.
“We’re in the process of procuring remote travel and automatic flight information systems for Labasa and Savusavu airports. Looking to future growth, an expression of interest has been issued for a feasibility study for a new airport in Vanua Levu, alongside an air connectivity study for Taveuni and master planning for Labasa and Matei airports.”
Gavoka announced that the ‘Na Vualiku’ program will launch an MSME pilot program in October to support small, community, and women-owned tourism businesses.
Additionally, an updated International Visitor Survey will begin this month to improve data collection and visitor feedback for businesses and the government.
Fixing the waste management problem within the tourism sector needs a collective approach, says permanent secretary for Local Government Sheema Sharma.
As a panelist at the Pacific Recycling Foundation roundtable discussions on Global Recycling Day in Nadi on Wednesday, Ms Sharma said from an industry point of view, one hotel alone could not make a difference.
“We obviously need a collective approach,” she said.
“We need the tourism stakeholders and agencies to work very closely with the Ministry of Tourism.”
Ms Sharma said the National Sustainable Tourism Framework featured the issue of waste management and how recycling could be embedded into a hotel operation.
Ms Sharma’s comments were in response to a concern about the tourism industry’s role in Fiji’s economy and also its contribution to waste generation.
She said a number of hotels in Nadi and other areas were looking at how they could recycle waste.
“And as Ms Lenora Qereqeretabua had mentioned, these hotels put dispensers and reusable bottles in rooms now.
“But it’s more than that, it’s the food waste. What should they do with that?
“And obviously there are certain things they cannot recycle and that should be the only thing going to any form of dump site.
“I think you will find a lot more smaller operations doing a lot more towards recycling and working closely with the Ministry of Tourism because they do have a framework that looks at sustainability.”
Ms Sharma said ministries of Tourism and Local Government were collaborating on the Na Vualiku project where West-based solutions could be applied in the Northern Division in terms of sustainable waste disposal.
“There are initiatives in place, and we just need to bring them together.”
Acting Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says the Na Vualiku project is a 10-year plan.
His observation follows concerns raised about the delays as consultations continue without any work having started.
Prof Prasad said there were a number of components to the $400 million World Bank-funded project.
“We signed that project last year when we came into government,” he said, adding the upgrade of Labasa Airport was part of the works included in the Na Vualiku project.
“And we are determined to have it completed in 18 months.”
Apart from this, he said there were a number of other developments taking place in the North.
“The Government is working with development partners, particularly China, to expand roadworks in the region.
“Other ongoing initiatives are the drilling of boreholes.”
Prof Prasad said some of these projects couldn’t be done ‘overnight’ and that work on four critical bridge projects would start soon.
With developments being undertaken in the North, he said investors were seeking to invest in the area, especially in commercial agriculture projects, due to the availability of land.
He said the number of investments in Vanua Levu in the last two years was higher than before.
The new terminal at Waiqele Airport in Vanua Levu will enhance passenger experience, increase capacity and ensure safety and comfort for all travellers.
This has been highlighted by Fiji Airports Limited CEO, Mesake Nawari while speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the new terminal in Labasa today.
Nawari says this investment by Fiji Airports could not come at a better time and coincides with the Na Vualiku Tourism Project, a multi-million dollar investment which is expected to lift Vanua Levu to new heights and create a legacy of growth for the North.
He says the next permanent terminal will feature state-of-the-art facilities, improved check-in counters, enhanced baggage handling systems and modern amenities for travellers into and out of the north.
Nawari says they will be able to do better in future if they get access to land around the airport.
He says he is hoping that through their partnership with the Vanua of Wailevu and in particular the Nakama land owners, they will be able to deliver this earlier than expected.
The CEO says he is also looking at some of the other land owners and lessees around the area.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says this new terminal construction project will be completed in 18 months time.
He says once completed, the New Labasa Terminal will be a new single-story structure of approximately 1,000 square metres including its modern services infrastructure.
Professor Prasad says it will bring about heightened economic opportunities, improve domestic accessibility, and increase tourism traffic — all contributing to the growth and prosperity of our Northern division.
Fiji Airports Ltd CEO Mesake Nawari has outlined the company’s ambitious 2025 plans, focusing on significant infrastructure upgrades and enhanced passenger experiences.
In an interview with The Fiji Times, Mr Nawari highlighted the company’s key initiatives, comprising the construction of a new transit hotel, a state-of-the-art commercial and retail building and expanded parking facilities.
He said technological advancements are also a priority, with the introduction of cutting-edge security measures like computerised tomography scan (CTS) technology and upgrades to passenger information systems.
These developments aim to position Fiji Airports as a leading regional hub.
“We have a new strategic plan and it’s a 10-year strategic plan, from 2025 to 2034,” Mr Nawari said.
“We have a new vision, and the vision is to be the world-class aviation hub for the Blue Pacific.
“While we’re already an aviation hub, we want to enhance our position in the Pacific for that. And we have various areas in our plan.”
Mr Nawari said moving to renewable energy, and continuing the work being done, Fiji Airports had the largest fleet of electronic vehicles.
Staff growth
Staff growth and development remained a crucial component of the company’s progress.
“We need to be working on our people, the development, and strengthening that area. The other exciting area is the areas of our stakeholder engagement.
“So that’s important as we do our projects, as we grow, we need to continue to engage with our stakeholders, the community that we operate in, all the, not just in aviation, but stakeholders in the tourism industry.”
Nadi Airport Airside Master Plan
Mr Nawari said the Nadi Airport Master Plan was quite an ambitious one and in the first five years, or 10 years, a lot of investments would be required to carry out developments delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So it’d be about around more than $1billion.
“We are still working through the actual cost, but it’s definitely going to be more than $1billion.
“While working on the infrastructure, you would have seen the many tenders that we’ve been putting out in the papers, that’s the start of a lot of groundwork to happen.”
Mr Nawari said these small works would commence in the next few weeks.
“We can move now since we have the off gate that’s been completed, the gates that were being built next to the Fiji Airways hangar.
“It took some time to complete that, so we need parking spaces for aircraft, that’s the biggest challenge we have, is working in an operating airport, the flights will not stop, it’ll continue, but people will keep coming in and out.”
The terminal building will be expanded which includes the arrivals area, the transit area to cater for the influx of transiting passengers.
“Thanks to Fiji Airways, they’ve looked at a market that they now have developed, and they’ve been quite competitive in terms of their pricing.”
Nadi airport is proving to be a good transit hub
“You come from one side of the world to the other side, you don’t have to walk for long like other airports, quite developed airports in the world and at the same time, the point-to-point connection.
“One to two hours to connect, coming from the North, coming from America and to the South, to Australia.
“For instance, just after 10 hours of flight, you connect within an hour or two hours, and then you go on then for another three, four hours.”
While this is working well, Mr Nawari said the Nadi International Airport was not built for transit. There was however, an opportunity for growth.
Development of the departure site back end
Mr Nawari said this was an area which had a lot of logistics involved, therefore underscoring the need to improve and expand the space.
“When you put your bags through, it goes on to that belt, and to the back it gets sorted, which flight you go to.
“You go in the morning, there are a number of flights checking in and then you’ve got the transit bags coming from the plane, so it’s sorted out.
Expansion of parking area
The parking area will be expanded, and new aerobridges will be added.
Mr Nawari said it took at least seven months to manufacture one aerobridge.
“So, we’re replacing these aerobridges that are quite old, but we are very glad that we are now going to replace them.
“We should put up the first one (aerobridge) by February, and then replace about six of them as we do.”
This will be scheduled according to all the construction work that will happen around the airport.
Development of master plan for Nadi International Airport land side
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports Ltd had engaged a consultant to do the master plan for the land side of the airport.
“This is where the Fiji Airports land, where the quarters are and then on the other side of the runway, which is referred to as New Town, opposite Crown Plaza.
This master plan also includes Nausori airport.
Mr Nawari said there is a plan being developed for the Nausori airport airside.
“For Nausori, and we are using that to work out a plan, to start with what we can do with our funding, and what’s the immediate need, which is really the domestic side of Nausori airport, and then to international.”
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports had also announced plans for upgrade works in Nausori this year.
“We’ve started with a consultant to look at the design work in Nausori, again, operating airport, old airport, with those challenges, but a great opportunity to start.
“The works in Labasa is funded by Fiji Airports. We have not started the work funded by the World Bank, that’s different. That’s under Na Vualiku Tourism Development program.”
Mr Nawari said the company was in the process of recruiting a project manager for the World Bank project.
“Let me make that clear, we’ve already got the project manager for the entire Na Vualiku Tourism Development project. That’s under the Ministry of Tourism because it’s a funding through the government to the ministry, but we are one of the implementing agencies.”
The implementing agency is Fiji Airports and Fiji Roads Authority.
“Fiji Airports, as an implementing agency, so we require a project manager to do that. So, we have to go and look for a project manager to recruit, to run that.”
Mr Nawari said it did not have enough project managers, considering the numerous projects undertaken at the Nadi and Nausori airports.
Transit hotel development
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports was also looking at the transit hotel and commercial and retail space.
“This is just in front of the arrivals, we’ve got the car park area there and then there is an empty space next to it, more towards the main roadside.
“So, there’s an opportunity that we’re looking at there, and we had tendered out last year for a hotel operator.”
Mr Nawari said the company was in the second stage of the tender evaluation to select the hotel operator, which will likely be a brand name.
Discussions regarding the specifications of the hotel and the brand will be done later.
“I’m hoping that people will say, 10 hours is a bit long, we’ll take one day or even 12 hours break and then go on to our next flight.
“So, they’re able to taste a piece of Fiji or at least Nadi when they stay at the transit hotel.
“Their holiday starts as they get off the flight, they’re walking rather than taking a taxi. So, to me, that’s indicating this potential for a transit hotel.”
This would also mean the establishment of services such as restaurants and retail outlets near the transit hotel.
Construction of operation centre
Mr Nawari said there was an increased demand from businesses to establish offices at the airport, however, there was a shortage of space.
“So, bringing everybody together, not just Fiji airport staff, like aviation security, the airport’s management, our aviation security contractor, Wormald, bringing Immigration, Biosecurity, FRCS basically those that all work at the airport under one roof.”
This operations centre is earmarked to be built where the old post office building is located.
“The cargo building will move, we have acquired a land along Nasoso Rd, opposite Grace Road.
“That gives us access into another fenced off area where we will build a cargo terminal there, a cargo building, and then potential for those that are associated with that kind of business to lease or build around there.”
This is all included in the master plan.
Extension of car park
Three to four levels of car parking space will also be constructed to cater for the increased traffic and ensuring that there’s proper flow at the airport.
Contactless passenger customer service
Fiji Airports is transitioning into a more contactless system.
“So, you just scan your passport and your boarding pass and then biometrics using the eyes and then clear and move on.”
This Fiji Airports system needs to be connected from check-in right to Immigration and then the international systems.
“A high number of our visitors are Australians and in Australia they experience this, so they will expect to experience that when they go through our airport.
“This would also reduce the queuing, leaving ample space in the airport.
“You will begin to see close to the end of this year the preparation for more self-check-in.
“So, like international airports now, check-in and automatic bag drop, you do your own tag, you put it through, that’s probably it and then you go through, it’s all scanned.”
Improvement of premium customer services
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports anticipated Fiji Airways’ plans to improve their premium customer services.
“If you go to Auckland, for instance, premium customers go into a separate section, they do their own check-in, going on to Auckland Airport, you go up the lift, then straight into express.
“So, I don’t know how Fiji Airways is going to do it, but I know they have plans to be able to do that.
“They’re expanding, we are doing it for them, the Tabua Lounge but to get there, there’s some painful steps to take through.”
Mr Nawari said a reduction in size was expected.
“There’s a VIP lounge for government in there, Air New Zealand lounge is there, so there will be some give and take in the short term.
“But to get into bigger departures and then with arrivals, expanding the arrivals, putting in an additional belt, so currently we have three there, so more belts in there.”
Computerised tomography scan (CTS) set up
Mr Nawari said the Immigration Department may be relocated in the airport to make space for the new computerised tomography scan machine.
“Right now, you just walk through but those CT scanners, if you look closely, the scanning machine itself it’s bigger than the current one, so it requires bigger space.”
More gates
Fiji Airports also plans to include an additional 12 gates.
“The more gates that we’ll put in, and then we are going to be starting the works on the apron for the new domestic airport.”
This means the Nadi domestic airport will shift a little bit towards the current cargo building.
“Likewise in terms of arrivals, Immigration and how it flows straight through to picking up your bags and then going out. So that’s on the passenger experience.”
Climate resilient infrastructure development
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports was also working towards constructing more climate resilient infrastructure.
“It’s interesting that we’re learning, for example, from the Japanese.
“What have they done, they face sometimes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
“How do we manage flooding, you know, potential flooding with developments all happening around the airport, it will happen. It’s everywhere in the world.
Use of renewable energy and reducing reliance on non-renewable energy
Fiji Airports is building its solar farm as part of the project and designers are working on this.
“We expect to learn more mid of next year, or this year, if we have to go in. It’s (tenders) already out for the designers to design the concept design.”
Mr Nawari said contractors would now need to inspect the concept design and map out the implementation.
“That’s a solar farm and being able to see how we connect it to the grid, which will mean discussions with EFL and FCCC, the regulatory requirements.”
Fire safety
In addition, Fiji Airports has made investments on new fire trucks last year.
“So it’s been delivered, each truck is almost $2million and the aerobridge that I talked about is about $2million, and so that’s the kind of investment that we make.
“We own Nadi airport, but we manage Nausori and the others on behalf of government. When Fiji Airports was formed in 1999 all the rest remained with government, and Fiji Airports was asked to manage it.”
Mr Nawari said while Fiji Airports needed to also consider the kind of investment that’s required for Nadi before looking at owning the other airports.
“We don’t receive any funding for looking after Nausori and the other outer islands, but we are expected to deliver their results.
“So fortunately, we make profits and we’re able to do that, but it’s reached a time that we can’t do a lot more of that, because we have projects in Nadi to do.”
The partnership between government and Fiji Airports in terms of their share of profits to fund part of capital upgrades at these airports helps address this.
Stakeholder and community engagement
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports invited the chiefs of Nadi to visit the airport last year.
“Most of them, it’s the first time to get into the airside. It’s unfortunate, but it was the first time.
“It was great to have them there and feel that their resource, that they have given to Fiji Airports and to the government initially, has been utilised well and developed in a way that they will not be seen anywhere else in Fiji.”
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports has extensively consulted and would continue to consult with stakeholders in terms of sharing information to cultivate partnerships that would support the development for Nadi, the Western Division and Fiji.
“We are in the process now, listing down, what do we need to talk to the Fiji Roads Authority about? What do we need to talk to Water Authority about? EFL? What do we need to talk to the Ministry of Environment and Waterways.
“It’s the whole of Fiji approach, and stakeholder community engagement for us is critical.”
The government’s plan to construct or upgrade an international-standard airport in Vanua Levu remains a work in progress.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says this initiative is a key priority for the coalition government under the Na Vualiku Tourism Project.
The project aims to address infrastructure needs and boost tourism growth in the Division.
Rabuka highlights that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the best option for Vanua Levu.
“It is for civil aviation, particularly Airport Fiji Limited, to look at and assess the feasibility of Vunilagi, developing Labasa, building one in Nasarawaqa, or extending Savusavu. Those are the options available to them, which would be the best option considering the potential for tourism development here.”
Rabuka acknowledges the challenges faced by businesses and hoteliers in Savusavu but expressed hope for significant progress this year.
Rabuka says developers will not want to invest in Vanua Levu if they no their guests will not get a timely transfer to the hotels.
Labasa Special Administrators Chair Paul Jaduram says the upgrade of the Waiqele Airport terminal in Labasa, undertaken by Pacific Building Solu-tions, is expected to commence soon.
“They are still constructing the temporary terminal. Once they finish that, then they will start working on the new terminal at Waiqele air-port, so I have no timeline on that as its AFL contractor.”
Approximately $161.3 million in funding from the World Bank, under the Na Vualiku Tourism Project, has been allocated to improve infrastructure con-nectivity in Vanua Levu.
In an effort to move away from energy sources that harm the environment, Energy Fiji Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank which is helping EFL to transition to renewable energy in Vanua Levu.
EFL and the World Bank will be working on a long-term roadmap for Vanua Levu to transition to renewable energy.
While signing the agreement, EFL Chair Rokoseru Nabalarua says that with all the development underway, they will need energy sources to make sure that they keep the lights on and that the businesses operate.
He says they are already working on a number of initiatives in terms of developing renewables.
EFL also signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to explore alternative renewable energy solutions in Viti Levu.
World Bank Acting Country Manager, Suzy Yoon says work has already started with dialogues and discussions on other areas of potential cooperation.
She says they want to take the existing capacity of EFL and just enable greater results for the inputs going into the efforts.
Yoon says the Na Vualiku Project is going to be a core through which they will look at all the enabling parts of developing Vanua Levu’s potential, both economically, but also to ensure the sustainable growth of the tourism sector that provides jobs and provides for a better future for the Northern Division.
She adds the potential is great, and they are here to facilitate that potential for Vanua Levu but their support can extend beyond that as well.
In an effort to bring development to where the people live, the World Bank is committing $400 million over the next decade through the Na Vualiku-Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu.
While speaking at the launch of the program in Savusavu, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says in the past 18 to 20 months, over 10 companies have invested in projects in Vanua Levu.
He says more of government’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment by developing transparent and consultative policies is critical and that includes infrastructure as well as other supporting activities that will significantly boost the economy in Vanua Levu.
Rabuka says in the Northern Division, 63 percent of the population falls within the productive age range of 15 to 64 and this demographic represents a tremendous opportunity to harness the abundant natural resources and the people for growth and development.
He says the Government is committed to transforming Vanua Levu into a thriving tourism hub, one that fosters economic growth, creates meaningful employment, and attracts both local and international investment.
The Prime Minister says tourism continues to be a driving force in our economy, and recent data from the Reserve Bank of Fiji shows that visitors’ arrivals remain strong, with nearly 100,000 visitors arriving in July and over 94,000 in August.
Rabuka says while most visitors currently focus on other parts of Fiji, we must work to ensure that more of them explore and experience the beauty and culture of Vanua Levu.
He further says while the Northern Division has the lowest multidimensional poverty rate in the country, at 26 percent, we still have work to do to lift all of our citizens out of poverty and into a better quality of life.
He says as a government, they are are focused on tackling poverty through targeted investments and policies.
Rabuka says they know that the rural areas, where 38 percent of Fiji’s poor population resides, need special attention and by addressing these disparities, the Government can make sure that every Fijian has a fair shot at success, no matter where they live.
He also confirmed that the Na Vualiku Program is firmly rooted in environmental sustainability and aligned with Fiji’s global commitment to combat climate change.
