Fiji Tourism

Two Views About

Conference Held in Suva

SUVA, September 29 A FULL-DRESS three-days con ference on tourism ended at luva on September 26.

Called by the Fiji Tourist and hiblicity Board and opened by the Acting Governor (Mr. A. F. R.

Itoddart), the conference drew a ormidable array of delegates: repre entatives of the Government, com lercial interests (European and In ian), airlines and shipping services, otel businesses, bus companies, ravel agencies and sundry other in srests. They met in the Legislative Council Chambers and discussed latters ranging from the need for lore garden seats for weary way irers in the hot muddle of Suva’s treets, to a vision of a new Hono ilu in Fiji’s more or less green and leasant land. There was also the ccommodation problem—which was ot solved.

The odd fact was that although /ery shred of tourist publicity em nating from Fiji, or produced over ;as concerning Fiji, is inevitably ased on the Fijian people, their

customs, music, dancing, pictur esquely attractive villages and their allegedly “carefree” life-—there was not a single Fijian representative at the conference. As far as is known, no Fijian was even formally invited.

Without the Fijians, there would be precious little for any visitor to Fiji. For the most part the scenery

of Samoa and Tahiti is more spec tacular, and Samoa at least is not blotted with Asiatic slums. Even as things are, visitors to Suva, fed on a tourist-folder diet of South Sea allurements, are often frankly dis mayed by the actuality. They com plain that they did not come to see an Indian-Chinese-European town

with no more than a Fijian flavour, and ask to be taken through “real Fijian villages.”

Mr. Stoddart said he wanted to present a view of the two sides to the tourist industry. He said that if visitors really enjoyed their stay, if they acquired a real interest in the country, and if they spent money which went to develop worthwhile local activities, and if tourism meant improved communications with the rest of the world, the influence of such visitors, both economic and social, was good. [ “But,” he continued, “if those visitors, in the means by which they amuse themselves, or have to be amused, introduce methods of enjoy ment and pleasure which lower the standard of a country and set a bad example to a perhaps under-de veloped people and set them a pic ture of a not very reputable outside world, the influence is not so good; nor is it so good if their presence and entertainment lead to the develop ment of ancillaries to the industry which are purely bogus and are con cerned in endeavouring to earn a rery dishonest penny.”

Editorial Note

As our correspondent points out, t is extraordinary that there were 10 Fijian representatives at this con ference. Although there is much in vhat he says about Fiji tourism, in airness it should be pointed out that without the European and Indian ilements there would be no Fiji ourist industry at all. (Which some >eople, of course, would think a ;ood thing). In spite of what visi ors may say about their desire to tnbibe native culture, or their en husiasm for the simple life, without omfortable hotels and good trans it Fijian villages would soon pall.

Tie average tourist to Fiji—and aost of them still come from New Zealand —seems to get at least as luch pleasure from shopping in uva and from patronising the In ian tailors as from viewing the :enery. Tourism is the most con roversial of all industries, as Mr. toddart indicated. In British coun ties it is the thing to be cynical bout it; or to regard it as “not quite ice.” But we all like the money brings in.

A motion by the Hon. A. M. rurau abolishing the provisions of ie existing Trade Debts Ordinance, 'hereby Samoans cannot be sued )r trade debts in Court, was passed y the Western Samoan Legislative assembly during the August/ eptember session.