Tourism in Fiji is increasingly reliant on visitors from countries that prefer cashless payment options. To facilitate this trend, it is essential for local businesses to have access to reputable international payment providers such as Stripe, PayPal, and Flywire. Watesoni Nata Jr., chair of the MSME Council, emphasized that these services would enable Fijian businesses to receive payments directly into their local bank accounts, expanding their access to global bookings and sales platforms.
Speaking at the Fiji Tourism Convention 2024 in Nadi, Mr. Nata expressed surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic did not resolve existing payment issues within the tourism industry. He noted that many businesses currently depend on offshore accounts to process their online payments, a situation that requires immediate attention to unlock significant market opportunities for small and community-based enterprises.
Furthermore, Mr. Nata highlighted the need to enhance incentives for businesses that engage in conservation leases. He urged the government and the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) to actively support tourism operators willing to protect land. He called for a reassessment of the incentives and rationale for obtaining conservation leases, stressing that initiatives aimed at environmental conservation should be appropriately valued and recognized for the ecosystem services they provide, rather than being classified merely as tourism leases.