Ratu Nailatikau - Statement on the occasion of the Grand Opening of the Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome
Jun 2, 2008, 15:30

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND CIVIL AVIATION, RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU ON THE OCCASION OF THE GRAND OPENING OF THE TAUNOVO BAY PRIVATE AERODROME

(2ND JUNE 2008)
VENUE: TAUNOVO BAY PRIVATE AERODROME.
DATE: MONDAY, 2ND JUNE 2008.

SALUTATIONS.


Mr. Mitch Hagerman, CEO and Managing Director of Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa (TBR & S),
The Taukei Qamo, Turaga ni Tikina, Vunivalu, Korolevu
Mr. Tony Alfaro, Chief Operations Officer, (TBR & S)
Mr. Harry Dugdale, Public Relations Officer, (TBR & S)
Adi Mitimiti Dreunimisimisi, Sales & Marketing Officer, (TBR & S)
Representatives of CAAFI
Representatives of AFL
Representatives of Pacific Sun
Staff of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Ni sa bula vinaka.

Today is indeed an historic day for the Taunovo Bay Resort and Spa. In a way, it is also a landmark for the people of the surrounding areas as they see the re-opening of this private aerodrome, under a different name and a different and exciting management team, led by an equally different and exciting CEO & MD who brings with him a different style of entrepreneurship. .

At the very outset I would like to thank the CEO & Managing Director of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa for inviting me, as the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation to be part of this historical event – the recommencement under a new management team driving the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa, of air transportation services into Korolevu.

HISTORY:
I remember as a young civil servant reading through correspondences exchanged between the then Colonial Director of Civil Aviation, the Director of Public Works, the Colonial Secretary, the Korolevu Air Transport, the Korolevu Hotel Airport and the Fiji Airways Limited regarding the proposal to establish a private aerodrome at Korolevu for purpose of transporting guests and workers to the then Korolevu Hotel.

It was in November 1959 that a license was eventually granted to the Korolevu Air Transport to operate a charter and air-taxi service between Korolevu and Nadi. The Korolevu Hotel Airport had then come into being. Over the years, the operation and management of this private aerodrome changed hands. Since its opening in 1959, the Korolevu Private Aerodrome had its ups and downs – on a couple of occasions it was temporarily closed and then re-opened – the closures were due mainly to lack of air traffic and the occasional flooding of the land on which the aerodrome was constructed. Almost 50 years on, with a lot of hard work and money expended on alleviating flooding and upgrading the runways and aerodrome the TAUNOVO BAY Airport is back.

Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa.
I like the catchy slogan that your Sales and Marketing Manager, Adi Mitimiti Dreunimisimisi sent me about the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa. It says, Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa - Stay a week or stay forever. The elusive Utopia! The survival today of almost every tourism service provider, like the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa is dependent on aggressive and stylish marketing strategies like this. And more.

In the aviation industry, speed and comfort are commodities that either make or break lucrative deals. People nowadays have only one desire when traveling, to get to their destination in the quickest possible way and 2, they wish get to their destination with the minimum (if not) no discomfort at all. Money to these travelers is of little consideration. The management of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa like the good entrepreneurs and careful investors that they are had quickly zeroed in on this elusive formula. And the first move they are making is to ensure that their guests travel no more than 25 minutes from the Nadi International Airport to enjoy the services the Resort have on offer.

The guests expect no less a service from an international hotel that promotes itself as a boutique 5-star Villa Resort that has set a new benchmark for luxury and privacy in the South Pacific. The additional claim to a Fijian and Balinese architecture, lush landscaping, exotic interiors and enhanced privacy, all on absolute beachfront is tempting.

At this stage, Ladies and Gentlemen I must declare my total impartiality and independence from dealings and etc of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa – Mr. Hagerman can vouch for this. Just in case I am mistaken for a sales agent for the Resort!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
With the advent of air transportation through the presence of the Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome, the Resort is now linked direct to our international airports through shared air routes. Initially though air services between Nadi and the Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome would be through charter flight arrangements.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given the importance of this new air transport arrangement the Interim Government of Fiji is sparing no efforts in ensuring that initiatives such as demonstrated here by the new Management of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa, receives the maximum support we can give. At the end of the day, strategic initiatives like this provides all stakeholders with a win-win situation. The opening of the Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome assures that our economy and our people & the international travellers at large wishing to patronize the 5-star facilities of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa, benefits.

The visionary stand taken by the new Management of the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa, in pressing ahead with its operational plans despite fact that investors are cautiously tightening their purse strings & closely watching developments taking place in Fiji and around the world, speaks volumes of their commitments to Fiji – it is also refreshing & encouraging.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Mr. Mitch Hagerman, CEO and Managing Director of Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa (TBR & S),
Turaga na Vunivalu Taukei Gau,
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands and members of his Interim Government and on behalf of the peoples and Government of Fiji I am deeply honoured, as the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation in Fiji, to declare officially open the new Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome and to wish this venture all the best.

And I pray that the Mighty Hand of God that we all worship to richly bless the Taunovo Bay Private Aerodrome and the Taunovo Bay Resort & Spa and all those who will serve and be served in it.

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