HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
President of the Republic of Fiji
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ADDRESS AT THE RE-OPENING OF THE TREASURE ISLAND RESORT
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Treasure Island Tuesday, 17th December, 2013
NADI 2.45p.m.
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Thank you Mr Walton for your very kind words of welcome.

• The Tui Vuda Ratu Kitione Tavaiqia,
• The Chairman of Treasure Island Limited, Mr Bill Whiting,
• Taukei Nakelo Ratu Asaeli Tavai,
• Members of the Staff of Treasure Island
• Distinguished Guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon, ni sa bula vinaka, assalamualaikum, namaste.

It is indeed for me a great pleasure to be with you all today in this most beautiful part of Fiji.

Looking around me today it is almost impossible to imagine that just 12 short months ago, such was the damage caused here by Cyclone Evan - one of our least desirable international visitors in recent times - that it forced Treasure Island Resort and, indeed, many other resorts in the Mamanuca Islands, to completely shut down their operations and begin the lengthy task of rebuilding.

I take the liberty of quoting our Prime Minister in his address to the nation shortly after Cyclone Evan struck our islands last December, quote, “these devastating events when they take place should not to be treated as defeats. But rather as a set back in our normal day to day lives.” Unquote.

And that is exactly what we are seeing here today.

What is in our control is our ability to show great strength in these moments of crisis.

The traditional owners, the management and staff of Treasure Island are to be applauded, as indeed all Fijians, for their demonstration of this great strength.

They are also to be applauded for the action they have taken, and will always take, towards putting their lives, and for that matter, their livelihoods, back on track.

Their actions, individually and collectively, are the finest examples of what we Fijians proudly call “the Bula spirit.”

Fiji’s tourism industry is our greatest source of foreign exchange and the largest providers of jobs for thousands of our people.
The benefits this nation accrues directly and indirectly from our hospitality industry affect every man, woman and child in this country.

In recognition of this and as an indication of the importance government places on this country continuing to attract international visitors to our shores is revealed in the 2014 budget, where Tourism Fiji has again received $23.5 million to fund the cost of marketing Fiji abroad.

The recent rebranding of the organisation under the slogan “Fiji: where happiness finds you” and our national airline as “Fiji airways,” is expected to further boost the performance of the tourism industry, And play an important pivotal role in ensuring its place as Fiji’s number one foreign exchange earner.

From a micro perspective, Treasure Island resort has played a key role in assisting the Fiji government in achieving its objectives.

Treasure island resort is very unique in that it is the only significant resort in fiji which is 50 per cent owned by the traditional landowners, the Tokatoka Nakelo of the Vanua of Vuda.

The traditional owners, management and staff of this iconic resort, both past and present, are to be commended for their invaluable contribution to Fiji’s tourism and for the role they have played, and will continue to play, in helping the government achieve its objectives. And in doing so, ensuring this vital sector continues to remain a pillar of our economic strength to the benefit of all Fijians in the years ahead.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, with these few words, I now have the honour and the greatest pleasure in officially reopening Treasure Island resort.

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, sukria, bahoot dhanyavaad.

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