Students pursuing careers in Fiji’s tourism industry now have a new place to gain practical experience, with the Pacific Polytech Melrose Hotel officially opened in Sigatoka.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka says the training hotel will give students the opportunity to learn in an environment with real guests, real service and real industry standards.
He says a training hotel is more than just bricks and mortar, describing it as a classroom where students can gain practical experience before entering the tourism industry.
Pacific Polytech established the Melrose Hotel as a registered training hotel for its students.
Gavoka says Pacific Polytech stepped into an important gap after the Technical Colleges of Fiji closed in late 2020 and early 2021, at a time when Fiji needed skilled workers.
He says the institution has grown from its first campus in Tavua in 2021 to a network of campuses from Lami to Labasa.
Gavoka says Pacific Polytech graduated 1,370 students in 2025, with that number expected to rise to 2,033 this year.
He says the institution offers 15 national qualifications and 22 provider qualifications.
Gavoka says tourism remains central to Fiji’s development, with the country recording 986,367 visitors and $2.81 billion in tourism earnings in 2025.
He says a strong tourism industry depends on having a trained workforce.
Gavoka also highlighted the Government’s recent legislative and policy changes affecting tourism, marine areas and aviation.
He says the Government’s focus also includes addressing the loss of skilled workers through training more people and strengthening the pipeline of skilled Fijians.
Gavoka says Government sets the policy and law, while institutions such as Pacific Polytech help build the skilled workforce needed to deliver them.
