Rusiate Waqa works for Evergreen Security Company.

He missed out on the monthly Best Fijian Host Award as he was not a trained Fijian Host and hence he did not qualify for the award.

However, over the past year, he received the maximum amounts of positive comments.

In recognition of this, the Ministry of Tourism awarded Mr Waqa with a Special Recognition Award for 2014 during the Fijian Hosts Awards the past week.

This was a means of the Ministry showing its appreciation to an individual who has all the traits of being a Fijian Host, but has neither the training nor the accreditation.

Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Shaheen Ali described Mr Waqa as “simply a true Fijian with all the qualities we are looking for in our Hosts.”

The awards event was held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi on Wednesday evening.

The award was first introduced by the Ministry of Tourism in September 2012 was to recognise the important contribution of the airport staff.

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