JOSAIA RALAGO
The completion of the multi-million dollar Nawi Island Project in Savusavu is expected to greatly boost the yachting industry.
With the green light recently given for dredging works to start, Nawi Island Marina is set to be operational by May next year.
David Jamieson, from the Yacht Help Fiji, said there were more yachts coming into the country but there was a shortage of marinas to accommodate these yachts.
“Super yachts industry in Fiji has grown, more super yachts are coming to Fiji in the past 10 years, and this facility should be an asset, the marina capacity in Fiji has hardly grown, and this is perfect timing,” Mr Jamieson said.
He said this project will also open up the opportunity for more yachts to visit the Lau Group, especially Qilaqila in Vanua Balavu.
Mr Jamieson added the Lau Group was “world class” as a cruising yacht destination and Nawi Marina would help yachts get to these areas.
He said they would seek the consent of the qoliqoli owners and work with them on how to better manage and protect the iqoliqoli’s, in terms of yachts that would visit.
“Nawi Island Marina is going to be world class, a standard super yacht marina, and that is going to be really good news for Fiji, it is going to help grow the port so there will be more yachts visiting Fiji, and that will help generate more jobs and professionalism in the industry,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the yachts and the super yachts, and it’s about the people of Lau and the people around here (Vanua Levu) that are benefitting. These yachtees spend money around Fiji where otherwise would be no tourism dollars going in.”
While briefing the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Ashneel Sudhakar during his recent visit to the island, Managing Director Mike Gann said they were a cyclone rated marina and this has been incorporated into their design and construction.
“With this in mind, we can even harbour boats all year around. Coupled with the boat yard, Fiji will have more yachts visiting our shores. The economic growth will be exponential and hard to calculate as we will be having boats and yachts all year around,” Mr Gann said.
Nawi Island Limited is expected to finish all its projects in different sections with phase 1 being the marina, arrival jetty and the dry dock facility in Balaga bay, along with the sale of 38 real estate sale while Phase 2 is resort and spa which will also feature 20 luxury marina condos and 20 luxury beach front bures.