Tourism growth in North spurs graduate’s ambitions

New graduate Meliki Vuniyatu believes the proposed Na Vualiku tourism project will be a “game changer” for employment opportunities in Vanua Levu.

Ms Vuniyatu, 24, from Yasawa Village in Tawake, Cakaudrove, graduated today with a Bachelor of Hospitality and Hotel Management from the Fiji National University (FNU)’s Labasa campus.

She hopes to secure a position as a chef at a hotel in Vanua Levu, saying the Northern Division remains her future despite completing practical training in Nadi.

“I felt happy, proud, and humbled that I was able to graduate despite the struggles I faced,” Ms Vuniyatu said, recalling the moment she walked to the podium to receive her certificate in front of her proud family.

She became the third graduate in her family and hopes her achievement will inspire more students to pursue tertiary education to improve their livelihoods.

Ms Vuniyatu said limited infrastructure and poor internet connectivity in her district forced her to relocate to an urban area to complete her studies.

Her attachment at the Radisson Blu Resort in Denarau Island, Nadi, gave her hands-on experience, which she enjoyed despite the challenges of balancing research projects and practical training.

Addressing skills gaps in the tourism sector, she said her decision to become a chef was driven by a desire to deliver world-class food standards.

“There is significant potential for tourism growth in the Northern Division, and the Na Vualiku project will generate much-needed employment opportunities,” she said.

“Chefs are in high demand, but we need greater awareness of the profession to encourage young people to consider it as a career.”

Ms Vuniyatu added that sustainable tourism projects like Na Vualiku will help retain skilled workers in Fiji rather than losing them to overseas markets.

The Na Vualiku Tourism Project is a major plan by the Government and the World Bank to build a stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable tourism industry in Vanua Levu and Taveuni.