New developments in Fiji tourism

From a Suva correspondent There’s been much speculation in Suva these past few weeks over the joint activities of well-known business and hotel identity, Mr. Barry Philp, and a former US Consul in Fiji, Mr. Tom Hill. The two have been in such constant and close consultation that something interesting had to be going on—as indeed it was.

In company with prominent New York attorney, Mr. Barclay Wagner, who was a regional government administrator at Nausori and Lautoka some years ago, Mr. Philp and Mr.

Hill have formed a corporation with interests in almost every facet of Fiji tourism.

The initial investment, they told PIM, will be in the vicinity of

Sussoo,Ooo.

Their plans involve travel and hotels (Mr. Philp, builder of the now-famous Mocambo Hotel, is currently keeping things moving at Suva’s Trade Winds Hotel, built and run by his brother, Colin); as well as the development of a new and luxury-class island resort.

Roliof in fntnro DcllcT m TUTUie The resort will be promoted under the registered name, Island in the Sun. The company currently has an option to buy Mr. H. J. McHugh’s island, Toberua, off the mouth of the Rewa River.

Ripples of interest have also been felt in most of the well-established tourist organisations and several direct offers have been made in surprising quarters.

Mr. Philp, who intended to be here for a few weeks only, now

has no definite plans to return to his home and business interests ii Sydney. On July 28 Mr, Hill retumeo to Washington, where he is with tht State Department, but he expects t« be back in a month or so.

Barry Philp said he had helped form the company because his belie: in the future of Fiji is firmer that ever.

Anyone who remembers an addres; Mr. Philp delivered some sevei years ago as a guest speaker at thi Defence Club, Suva, will know tha his predictions can be astute.

He talked then of the possibilit; of declaring Suva a duty-free pon (it seems impossible now that it wai ever anything but that!), the necessit: for building up tourist interest ii Australia and New Zealand, the nee* to build new hotels and resorts i the colony ever hoped to attrao revenue from tourism. He also pu forward several other ideas whie: have since been adopted.

His new example—and that a.

Tom Hill and Barclay Wagner— wii no doubt encourage a number c: others who’ve been hestitating o( the brink of investment.

Toberua (meaning “two locks c: hair”), was bought by Sydnet company director, Mr. J, McHugH

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Mrs. Ben Jannif admires the Silver Wolf Scouting Award presented by the Governor of Fiji, Sir Derek Jakeway, to her husband during a recent ceremony at Government House, Suva. Mr. Jannif, MBE, is Scout Com missioner for Fiji.

Photo: Rob Wright.

i 1963 for £F4,500 from Mrs. G. lalley.

The island is four acres of sand nd coconut trees six miles off Kaba oint, south-east coast of Viti Levu.

Meanwhile, in three separate loves in July, Qantas took bigger iterests in Fiji and New Hebrides irways and announced its intention > study the hotel potential of the [)uth Pacific with two major hotel lotel chains. These developments *e: • With its three partners in Fiji irways, it has increased its invest ed in the airline by £F62,500, and hen the other partners—Air New jaland, BOAG and the Fiji Govem ent—contribute equal amounts, the lid-up capital of this airline will ; doubled—from £F240,000 to "490,000. The capital increase here directly for the purchase of Fiji irways’ second prop-jet HS74B air aft, due in Fiji in December. • Qantas has bought a controlling 1 per cent, interest for an un sclosed price of New Hebrides irways Ltd., by buying the entire areholdings of Italian-born Noumea uild i n g contractor, Mr. A. rdimanni (49 per cent.), and a lall holding from Mr. R. Paul, HA’s founder (two per cent.), ivners of New Hebrides Airways >w are Qantas, 51 per cent., Mr. ml, about 25 per cent., Mrs. Paul irton, about 18 per cent, and New ; bride an s and others, about four r cent.

New Hebrides Airways currently erates the condominium’s internal * services in association with sbridair a French-owned company th a minor shareholding held by ; French airline, UTA.

Qantas bought shareholdings imarily to stop French interests ring a controlling hand in the joint eration, called Air Melanesia, and intas has no immediate plans to slace NHA’s two Drovers with ier aircraft. BO AC is also soon pected to take up an interest in :w Hebrides Airways.

O Qantas, Western International )tels of the US and Traveledge istralia Ltd. have agreed to join in investigation of the potentialities hotel development in the “Aus lian region”, the chairman of mtas, Sir Roland Wilson, said on igust 1.

Sir Roland didn’t specify what he ;ant by “Australian region” but M understands this includes New tinea, the Solomons, New Hebrides d Fiji.