The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) has applauded the government’s new budget for prioritizing policies that focus on the needs of everyday citizens, demonstrating a clear commitment to improving the quality of life for Fijians. The association is particularly impressed by the enhanced focus on critical areas such as infrastructure development, education, and health services.
This budget reflects the FHTA’s earlier calls, alongside other business organizations, for more effective budgeting and implementation in these vital sectors. FHTA welcomed the reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT), decreasing from 15% to 12.5% starting August 1, but raised concerns that the anticipated drop in government revenues needs to be strategically managed to maintain economic growth.
The FHTA emphasizes the importance of coordinated government support to ensure that initiatives aimed at economic diversification and job creation are executed with urgency. They also expressed optimism regarding the increased funding for Tourism Fiji, expecting it to boost international marketing efforts amidst heightened global competition in the tourism sector.
The budget for 2025-26 reaffirms the government’s intention to build a resilient and inclusive economy; however, the FHTA points out that the reduced revenue streams necessitate a strong focus on stimulating economic growth to sustain this vision.
Previous articles have similarly discussed the critical role of tourism in Fiji’s economic landscape, highlighting that consistent government efforts to improve infrastructure can significantly benefit the sector. The shared sentiment across discussions indicates a collective hopefulness for the future of Fiji’s tourism and economic recovery, driven by thoughtful policies and collaborative approaches.
By prioritizing essential services and infrastructure improvements, the Fijian government is taking significant steps toward creating lasting economic stability and growth, which could yield positive outcomes for the community and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
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