Cabinet yesterday endorsed the super yacht charter decree.
This was confirmed by the Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday.
Highlighting the super yacht industry as a top earner for the tourism sector, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the decree will now allow for super yachts to come, charter, and cruise in Fiji which will be of enormous benefits to Fiji.
"It is hardly ever, if ever affected by recessions. Last year during the recession, the top three to four percent of the super yachting sector was not affected at all. In the South Pacific, the super yachts only come up to tahiti and up to the east coast of Australia. So in between there is no opportunity for super yachts to be cruising; to be chartering in the Southern Pacific waters."
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum added that consultations were held with not only the private sector, but with various Government agencies such as the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, FIRCA, FTIB, Tourism, and FIMSA to name a few.
The decree allowing super yachts into the country, said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, is in line with the Prime Minister's 2010 Budget in which "we have reduced, for example, the duty on marine vessels, this now helps to assist to create a marine industry in Fiji."
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said super yachts "are big hand spenders and when they come to Fiji, they will actually use our services, buy our food, speend their money here, and use local employees. This decree has enormous support from all sectors."