Co-ordination is key

word in Fiji's new Tourism Commission

What will the formation of the Fiji Tourism Commission mean?

How will it affect the Fiji Visi tors Bureau? These are the ques tions being asked in Fiji’s tourism circles just now . . .

The first effect was that Rory Scott’s title of managing director of the Fiji Visitors Bureau was changed to that of general manager. The dif ferent title is provided for under the new ordinance for the bureau, approved by Fiji’s Legislative Coun cil in December.

The Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamiesese Mara, announced in January that Ratu George Cakobau, who is the Minister for Fijian Affairs and Local Government and Mr. Vijay R, Singh, the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives, would join Mr. Charles Stinson, Minister for Communications, Works and Tourism, on the three-man com mission.

While the new body is to be the supreme policy-making body for the tourist industry in Fiji, the function of the bureau—which must be con sidered responsible for generating a very large part of the tourist interest in Fiji—is not expected to change very much.

$3 per head

The formula for government financial allocation to the bureau is expected to stay the same, certainly during 1970. This system, which Mr.

Scott describes as “one of the most advanced methods of its kind in the world,” allowed S 3 per head for every tourist who arrived during the first 10 months of 1969, then predicted the figures for the last two months and allocated on that basis.

“At least under this system we can look ahead for the next year or so and estimate roughly what we’re go ing to get from government,” Mr.

Scott pointed out. “It’s a great help in June to know what you’re going to get in January.”

The 1970 government grant to the bureau will be over $240,000 — $36,000 more than for 1969. The bureau will also strive to raise $lB,OOO from business houses and tourism agencies. During 1969, staff mem bers managed to raise $16,500 of

the 1969 target, which was also

$Lb,Ooo.

One of the long-term effects of the newly-formed commission should be its function as a pressure group with in the government. Instead of one minister—the Minister for Tourism —striving to get things done, there will be three.

It is also intended to bring about closer co-ordination between the de mands of tourist development and the demands of society and environment.

One good effect will be that it should form a barrier against over development in a single area in Fiji.

Members of the commission are already looking to the Yasawas as a possible region for new development.

Inevitably, if the commission operates ideally, it must end up with a much-needed co-ordinating plan, the Master Plan all the experts have urged Fiji to draw up.

Rory Scott told PIM that he wel comed the formation of the com mission, but added: “We will need to devise machinery for making sure that its members are just as closely in touch with the desires and aspira tions of people in the industry as they are with those of people out side it, through their political con nections.”

Mr. Scott said he believed Fiji should have a Department of Economic Opportunity—or something similar—so that potential investors could learn the facts they require from one source.

“At present, they are shuttled back and forth from department to depart ment. By the time an investor opens his hotel doors, he’s been involved in almost every ministry in govern ment,” he said.