Fiji Tourist Trade

Now ‘Big Business

More Hotels for Suva

Letter to the Editor IN your March “Tropicalities” there appeared a paragraph which re ferred to a recent visit of Ameri can travel agents to Fiji.

The tenor of the article was typical of a certain type of mentality in Fiji which endeavours to dis parage the up-and-coming tourist industry (which last year alone netted over a quarter of a million pounds).

Your correspondent stated that Fiji was spending large sums of money bringing travel agents to the Colony. He should check his facts.

The agents were brought to Fiji by Pan American World Airways. Their stay in Fiji was mostly by courtesy of various local hotel organisations, travel agents, taxi companies and the Fiji Visitors’ Bureau —the latter to a limited extent.

Certainly, there is an occasional shortage of accommodation in Suva, but Suva is not the beginning and end of the tourist attractions in Fiji. Far from it. Fiji’s tourist at tractions are many and varied.

The beautiful south-east coast of Viti Levu with its two excellent resorts, Korolevu and Deuba, can cater for all and more visitors than

arrive at present. Other spots on Viti Levu include Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Raki Raki and Tailevu. On Vanua Levu there are Labasa and Savusavu, and, on Ovalau, the old capital of Levuka.

At all the above places comfort able hotels provide a high standard of accommodation, and plenty of it.

As to improved accommodation facilities in Suva, your correspon dent obviously has not left the isolation of his presumed bushland home. A walk down Victoria Parade will show him the framework of the new South Seas Hotel which will cater for sixty guests in luxurious comfort when completed.

True, work has been halted on it at

present: but that is to allow certain alterations to plans, and its com pletion is definitely in the “foresee able future." Another hotel with ten bedrooms has been and will be operating later this year.

The tourist trade in Fiji is already big business —unless your correspondent considers a quarter of a million pounds as “chicken feed” —and it is growing rapidly each year.

A perusal of the annual reports of the Fiji Visitors’ Bureau would possibly convince your correspon dent that there is a profitable in dustry growing right under his nose; and, incidentally, one that will provide more and more em ployment for people of all races in the Colony.

It is a pity that some individuals set themselves up as authorities on subjects that they know so little about.

He should have spoken with the ITS travel agents on their return journey and heard the sincere and favourable comment on Fiji’s tourist attractions —which they had enjoyed immensely despite the alleged “near hurricane.” Perhaps some of the wind referred to was locally generated.

I am, etc.,

Trade Winds.

Suva, May 8.

A York aircraft transporting Fijian troops to Singapore landed at Townsville recently with one of its four engines out of action. It resumed the flight the following day.