Our greatest assets are our people - Gavoka

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka says now, as we recover and grow, so does the realization of the industry’s vulnerability and the value of our greatest assets, our people.

Gavoka stated this at the 2022 ANZ Tourism Awards and also says that he has been where most of them are today or where they once were as he had started his career in tourism, in sales, in the late 1970s.

The Minister says they have recovered 71 percent of their 2019 visitor numbers paving the way for an anticipated 85 percent recovery of pre-pandemic levels by 2023, with a full return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, and in 2025, they expect to grow by 3 percent.

He also adds the national airline, Fiji Airways, has set the bar as a carrier.

Last week, Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen, shared that January 2023 was another record month with more seats and more passengers flown than January 2019.

Gavoka says next week, they will officially launch their new tourism brand, “where happiness comes naturally” and he would like to congratulate Tourism Fiji CEO, Brent Hill, and his team.

He also says these numbers means more jobs and it means more shifts, greater demand for food produce, more opportunities to invest.

He says for example a farmer in Ba that supplies eggs or a dairy co-operative in Tailevu supplying hotels also earns a living, and that is the greatest measure of success.

The Minister adds for us at home, resilience is a lot more than a vocabulary as it is a way of life we have learnt to embrace, long before the pandemic.

He also adds that they have proven their resilience in the past, they are proving it today and they most certainly will in future.

Gavoka says these record numbers reflect their sacrifices, their compassion, and their commitment.

He also says they have had to stay away from family during lockdown; work shorter hours with reduced income; worry about putting food on the table and paying bills; train themselves to facilitate testing and isolation or work multiple roles; let go of some of the oldest members of their team.

Gavoka also says their success is our success, and when the tourism industry thrives, so does the economy and related sectors, and when the economy prospers, so do the lives of our people and communities.

He further says whether they are a luxury hotel, a culture champion, climate leader or a wedding or dive operator they are all key pillars that keep the industry moving forward.