Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs, and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, laid out a compelling vision for Fiji’s economic future at the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) breakfast meeting, where he served as Guest Speaker.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the tourism industry to discuss Fiji’s evolving economic landscape and strategic growth in the tourism sector.
In his keynote address, DPM Kamikamica emphasised the Coalition Government’s commitment to building a “future-focused economy” driven by digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and indigenous empowerment.
The DPM highlighted major initiatives including investments in submarine fiber optic cables, data infrastructure, and secure data centers to underpin Fiji’s digital economy and support the booming Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.
“This transformation is not about leaving anyone behind—it’s about lifting everyone together. We are preparing Fiji for the demands of a rapidly changing world,” he said.
DPM Kamikamica also reaffirmed support for tourism as a pillar of Fiji’s economy, noting its symbiotic role in the broader national development agenda. He acknowledged the challenges of the global market but stressed Fiji’s resilience and competitive edge in offering unique, authentic experiences.
Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill echoed this sentiment, sharing a confident outlook for the industry despite early-year softness in visitor numbers.
“We responded swiftly with increased global promotions. In Australia alone, six major campaigns ran concurrently—one generating over 10,000 room nights for a single hotel,” Mr. Hill reported.
Both speakers nonetheless emphasised yield management and strategic investment as crucial moving forward.
DPM Kamikamica outlined reforms to boost investor confidence through streamlined business registration, online approvals, and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) targeting tourism, clean energy, and tech industries.
Mr. Hill on the other hand added that Fiji is seeing robust growth in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) tourism segment, with more local operators offering hiking, biking, culinary, and cultural tours.
“We’re also anticipating a 300+ room luxury hotel and over 2,200 rooms under development across 16 projects,” he said.
With Fiji welcoming nearly one million air arrivals and over 80,000 cruise passengers last year, both DPM Kamikamica and Mr. Hill agreed that infrastructure investment is essential to sustain momentum and maintain Fiji’s standing as a world-class destination.
The breakfast concluded with a united call for decisive action and collaboration between public and private sectors.
“Fiji is not just adapting to change—we are helping shape the future of our region,” DPM Kamikamica said.