NaVualiku, also known as the Fiji Tourism Development Programme for Vanua Levu, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Wasawasa Lodge in Savusavu on Friday. This project is initiated by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and is funded by the World Bank.
Rabuka highlighted that this initiative, backed by a strategic financial partnership with the World Bank, is not merely a financial investment. “The World Bank is committing $400 million over the next decade to support economic growth in the Northern Division,” he stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized the goal of transforming Vanua Levu into a vibrant tourism hub that promotes economic development, creates jobs, and draws both local and international investments. He noted that tourism is a key driver of Fiji’s economy, with recent data from the Reserve Bank of Fiji indicating strong visitor arrivals, nearly 100,000 in July and over 94,000 in August.
These figures illustrate Fiji’s robust attractiveness as a travel destination for holidaymakers, business travelers, and those visiting friends and family. Rabuka believes that enhancing tourism in the North will generate jobs, stimulate local enterprises, and infuse significant investment into the region.
The development initiative is designed to create the necessary infrastructure and services to draw more tourists to the Northern Division, ensuring that the advantages of a flourishing tourism industry benefit the local population. Rabuka pointed out that the programme aims to generate employment opportunities, enhance local businesses, and bring new prospects to every household.
With the poverty rate in the Northern Division standing at approximately 29 percent, predominantly affecting rural residents, he acknowledged that despite having the lowest multidimensional poverty rate in the country at 26 percent, further efforts are required to uplift all citizens towards a better quality of life.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka noted that popular tourist areas like Nadi, Denarau, Yasawas, Mamanucas, and the Coral Coast account for about 80 percent of all visitors, while the North receives only around four percent. This disparity underscores the unexploited potential of Vanua Levu, which the NaVualiku programme aims to harness.
Gavoka mentioned that the programme is also dedicated to improving the quality of life for citizens and advancing infrastructure development. Several ministers, including Sakiasi Ditoka for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Agni Deo Singh for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations, Ifereimi Vasu for iTaukei Affairs, and Maciu Nalumisa for Housing and Local Government, were in attendance at the launch.
Additionally, Prime Minister Rabuka is set to open the NaVualiku project office at JKS Holdings Building in Savusavu on Saturday. World Bank Group country manager for Fiji, Stefano Mocci, commented that this represents a novel approach being implemented for the first time in any Pacific country, reflecting the group’s confidence in Fiji’s ability to execute a complex and ambitious project of this magnitude.