Tourism in Fiji’s Northern Division faces significant challenges primarily due to insufficient airlift capacity and the need for better airport infrastructure, particularly at Vanua Levu. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka, addressed these issues by highlighting how the lack of larger runways hinders the efforts of hotels and community-based tourism operators in attracting visitors.
Currently, only four percent of Fiji’s national tourist arrivals occur in the Northern Division, which emphasizes the need for improvements. Gavoka expressed optimism about the NaVualiku Tourism Development Project, believing it will enhance the region’s tourism potential. “The main challenge here in the North is our current plan to upgrade facilities to accommodate ATR-72 aircraft in Matei, Savusavu, and Labasa. If we can achieve this in the coming years, the North will see a surge in tourism arrivals,” he stated.
Additionally, Gavoka pointed out the Vunilagi site as a promising location for a future airport serving Savusavu. This new facility would be designed to handle both ATR-72 and larger aircraft, significantly boosting the region’s tourism prospects. Over the next eight years, infrastructure improvements initiated by the NaVualiku Tourism Project will focus on enhancing access and expanding tourism capacity across the Northern Division.
With these upcoming developments, there is a hopeful outlook for revitalizing the tourism sector in Fiji’s Northern Division, potentially leading to increased visitor numbers and greater economic benefits for local communities.
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