Namosi Eco Retreat to mark 10 years with 'reggae by the river' festival

The Namosi Eco Retreat will mark its 10th anniversary in July with its first-ever 'Reggae by the River' music festival in the Namosi Highlands.

Located beside Navunikabi Village in Namosi, the retreat will celebrate the milestone on July 25, a decade after opening in 2016.

Founder and owner-operator Daniel Sovatabua said reaching the milestone was an “amazing achievement” for a tourism venture established in one of Fiji’s most remote regions.

“One of the biggest challenges was going through the requirements to get the land lease and hotel licence,” he said.

“It took almost six years dealing with different ministries before everything was approved.”

Despite the challenges, he said support from landowning units, government ministries and tourism stakeholders played a key role in the retreat’s success.

“Namosi is not normally seen as a tourism area, but that is what makes it unique,” he said.

“I wanted to showcase a different side of Fiji that people do not usually see.”

He added that his personal connection to the area influenced his decision, as his father’s bloodline is from Namosi and his mother is from Totoya Island in Lau.

The “Reggae by the River” festival will feature five local reggae bands, traditional cultural performances, local cuisine and camping facilities for guests.

Mr Sovatabua said the anniversary celebrations aim to promote local talent while offering visitors a unique eco-tourism experience in the mountains of Namosi'