📋 Tender Overview
Tourism is uniquely positioned to display Fijis beauty to the world and must therefore continue to play its part in being its most active supporter and protector of the environment our sea and land.This message was delivered to participants of the 2022 Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Talanoa Symposium and HOTEC Tradeshow today by His Excellency the President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the Sheraton Resort in Nadi.With the theme Working towards a Sustainable Marketable Agile Resilient and Travel-ready SMART Industry President Katonivere highlighted that the economy industries and even our partnerships must be both sustainable and resilient to succeed.We need to tailor make our visions strategies methods and responses with the goal of sustainability resilience and future proofing our approach.Resilience and future proofing allows us to be aware of what affects the tourism industry and anticipate the future while developing methods in order to minimise the effects of further economic shocks that future events may pose and in turn overcome adverse situations.The President mentioned that this was clearly demonstrated when international borders were closed when tourism businesses were left with little or no resources but expected to maintain the same level of service.Further to this was the pressure to maintain operations without a consistent basis of revenue while being positively focussed on the re-opening of our international borders.It was encouraging to learn that there were operators cultivating their own farms to supply their kitchens or look after their staff who could not return home. This truly is the essence of the spirit of veilomani. In our quest to remain sustainable and environmentally friendly some operators even moved to more renewable and clean energy sources to lower their overhead costs and energy consumption.He also encouraged symposium participants and panelists to approach every conversations with open minds and indulge in an exchange of ideas and information over the two days that benefit those that will use and receive it.Use this forum and the available networking opportunity to build on the industrys resilience and adaptability its ability to be aware of the challenges and risks that while understanding we may not be able to control or to avoid many of these problems we can remain open flexible and willing to adapt to change.I also challenge many of you here today to consider the more sustainable alternatives for energy recycling and production that will replenish or better manage our natural resources.
