Fiji Village: Labasa Airport will be closed from 16 February to 27 March 2026 to allow critical runway pavement strengthening works.
Fiji Airports says the upgrade is essential for improving the airport’s safety, reliability, and long-term resilience.
They say it will enhance key sections of the runway to improve its Pavement Classification Rating, which is a measure of how much weight a runway can safely support.
They add that once completed, the upgraded runway will accommodate ATR 72 aircraft operations, in line with an approved safety case.
The works are funded by the World Bank under the Na Vualiku Project.
Fiji Airports is also working with airline partners and transport stakeholders to ensure travel options are available for passengers during the temporary closure.
Our team met with the management of Korovou Homestay in Naduri Village, Macuata.
Homestays like Korovou capture the true spirit of community tourism, welcoming guests, sharing local culture, and creating new income opportunities for families.
The Na Vualiku Project will soon launch a Pilot Program to support MSMEs, women-led enterprises, and community-based tourism organizations through training, grants, and stronger market connections.
We are excited to empower more communities like Naduri to build sustainable and inclusive tourism ventures. Stay tuned for details.
Tourism in Fiji is more than travel, it is a vital part of our economy and a powerful driver of community development.
🌴 Fiji is among the world’s top 20 most tourism-dependent countries. 📊 Tourism contributes nearly 40% of GDP, directly and indirectly. 👩🏽🍳 It supports one in three jobs across the country.
In Vanua Levu, tourism is one of the few sectors offering formal jobs and business opportunities, particularly for women and rural communities. This makes it a key pathway for inclusive and sustainable growth.
💡 A 2023 World Bank study found that even a 1% increase in tourism GDP is linked to a 0.68% reduction in poverty.
This is why the Na Vualiku Project is investing in better infrastructure, community tourism, and environmental protection ~ to help unlock tourism’s full potential for the people of Vanua Levu and Taveuni.
In Nakawaga Village, visitors arriving on cruise ships often make their way to the local waterfall, a stunning natural attraction with tremendous potential. 🌊✨
We visited the community, as part of the Na Vualiku Project’s design, data gathering, and awareness-raising activities to understand how communities can strengthen tourism opportunities and benefit from sustainable local enterprise.
Tourism currently provides occasional income, but with the right support, communities like Nakawaga could develop stronger visitor experiences, improve facilities, and build enterprises that share benefits more widely.
The Na Vualiku Project will soon launch a Pilot Program for MSMEs, women-led enterprises, and community-based tourism organizations. The program is designed to unlock this potential by supporting community businesses, strengthening skills, and linking villages to wider tourism markets.
A beautiful waterfall is only the beginning. The real story is about communities turning opportunity into lasting prosperity.
Fiji has been recognised by National Geographic as one of the 25 Best of the World Destinations for 2026, joining a global list that celebrates the planet’s most inspiring and meaningful travel experiences.
Selected by National Geographic’s international editorial teams, the list honours places that champion authentic connections with nature, culture, and community ~ values at the heart of the Na Vualiku Project!
The feature highlights Fiji’s breathtaking natural beauty, vibrant culture, and strong commitment to sustainable tourism, reaffirming its position as a world leader in responsible and inclusive travel.
For the Na Vualiku Project, this recognition underscores the importance of our collective efforts to promote sustainable tourism development in Vanua Levu and Taveuni, where community-driven initiatives, resilient infrastructure, and environmental stewardship are creating opportunities for future generations.
As part of the 5th World Bank Implementation Support Mission, the Na Vualiku Project and World Bank teams visited potential solar panel sites at the Savusavu Market, Bus Station and Council Office with the Town Council’s Chair and Acting CEO.
Why this matters for communities and tourism: ✅ Lower energy bills for councils and small businesses ✅ Safer, well-lit and more reliable public facilities could mean longer operating hours ✅ Better experience for residents and visitors ✅ A tangible step toward Fiji’s renewable energy and climate goals
We’re now finalizing the contract for a consultant to conduct a feasibility study that will guide the installation of solar PV systems in Labasa and Savusavu, a move that will strengthen infrastructure, support tourism growth, and enhance community resilience.
🌱 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.
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.
