Tourists
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Must Have More
“The Accommodation Bottleneck"
CONSIDERATION of plans for develop ing the tourist traffic in Fiji was urged by Mr. W. G. Johnson at a meeting of the Suva Chamber of Com merce in October.
Mr Johnson emphasised the benefits which tourists bring, providing employ ment and increasing the flow of money into the Colony, He urged that a summary of Fiji’s at tractions should be advertised overseas and suggested a plan based on sending visitors to points on the Viti Levu road system, and to the Yasawas.
Mr. Johnson said that an accommoda tion bottleneck was caused bv inadequate hotel facilities in Suva and he suggested that self-contained cottages, with full amenities and connected by paths with the main building, should be built in the grounds of the Grand Pacific Hotel. These cottages would provide accommodation for a further 40 guests. Swimming baths and an open-air dance floor would add to the hotel’s amenities.
Mr. Johnson suggested that in the Yasa was two camps should be set up, and linked with Lautoka by a large and well equipped passenger launch. The camps should have electric light and hot and cold water, and be made insect proof, and liquor licences should be provided. The atmosphere should nevertheless be tropi cal, and thatch, plaited bamboo and other native materials should be used as much as possible in the construction of the camps. Mr. Johnson considered that the
natural beauty of the Yasawas, together with attractions which could be developed, would draw visitors in large numbers.
Mr. Johnson said that he believed that if the proposed extra accommodation were provided in Suva and the camps estab lished in the Yasawas to supplement the accommodation now available in North Western Viti Levu, it would be possible to plan for a continuous movement of tourists, enabling more to be catered for then if visitors came to the one place and stayed there.
Mr. Johnson’s proposals were very favourably received by the Chamber of Commerce, and it was decided to send copies of his memorandum to the Govern ment, to airlines calling at Fiji, and to the Union Steamship Co.
The first meetings of the Presbyterian General Assembly of the New Hebrides met in August of this year. The Rev. J.
G. Miller, Principal of the Tangoa In stitute, was elected Moderator, and the Rev. R. T. C. Williams clerk of the new Assembly. Pastor Saurei, of Vila, was elected as Moderator’s chaplain.