The man who fought to pave way for young Fijians is the first in Fiji to introduce off-grid concept.

Varinava Tiko, the founder and managing director of Align Investment Pte Limited spent three months setting up a $70,000 recreational camping vehicle.

The brand name under the company is OFF-GRID.

He started his business early this month driving for a customer to a beautiful camping site along the coastal road in Nadi and was able to rope in $1000.

He believes tourists should be allowed to explore Fiji’s pristine environment, interact with rural communities, visit caves, rivers, forests and sites that are tourist attractions.

“The expedition prices range from $700 to $1000 per day depending on places visited,” Mr Tiko said.

“My target customers are and not limited to the hard-working expat community in Fiji who want time out of air condition and electronics.”

The expedition is mostly outside urban areas.

He plans to build few more units for Suva, Nadi and Savusavu.

Off-grid concept

Mr Tiko said camping, as a modality for family bonding, allowed families to unplug from technology and spend quality time together in a natural setting.

This shared experience encourages communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, spending time in nature can foster appreciation and gratitude for the natural world, which can lead to positive emotions and an increase in overall well-being, he said.

“The concept of camping as a mental health intervention is an innovative approach to addressing mental concerns that uses nature as the primary setting to offer therapeutic interventions.

“This project seeks to understand the benefits of camping as a mental health intervention and its role in improving the emotional well-being of people.”

He said this camping intervention project could provide an alternative approach to traditional therapy interventions.

This project unlocks the possibility of utilising nature as a therapy tool, which supports the relationship between nature and human well-being, he said.

“Human interaction with nature, such as spending time outdoors, has been shown to have numerous benefits for overall health and well-being,” he said.

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