HIDRIA-IOS Appointed to Develop Vanua Levu’s First Integrated Tourism Master Plan – a First for Fiji

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.