A six-star hotel is currently looking at setting up in a location in the Yasawa’s, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said yesterday.

He said the hotel wanted to start investments in Fiji and the Government has provided incentives for the company in that respect.

“These things don’t happen overnight. We need to be competitive in the tourism sector,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said during the debate on the Consolidated Report on the Review of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 Annual Reports.

He reminded hoteliers that competition in the tourism sector is going to be very tough as countries are opening up and making themselves look more attractive.

Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau spoke about Tuna Politics in response to SODELPA MP Viliame Gavoka.

He said since 2017, the Government had been trying to secure tuna raw products from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tuvalu to fill the newly built freezer container at PAFCO, Levuka.

“The whole of the Pacific countries has their own by products and factories and they have limited resources to feed the factories that they have. All of our attempts have been in vain. Most of these countries the actual financing of their governments on the 70 per cent is from tuna and then we have other political matters involved.”

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate said Fiji’s economy was now more service based as diversification has been happening over time.

He reiterated that there was no mining at the Sigatoka River mouth nor has a licence been given for mining, only the right to explore licence which is issued after meeting stringent requirements.

Feedback: fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj