Implementation Of Sustainable Tourism In Fiji: Case Of The Volivoli Beach Resort

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Introduction

The Volivoli beach resort is located on the northernmost tip of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. The place is famous for scuba diving, fishing and for culture lovers. The place is fully covered with nature. Many tourists visit this place for water activities such as scuba diving, fishing, boating, kayaking, windsurfing etc. The volivoli beach offers private convenience with all-encompassing shorelines and ocean views. This resort has an open swimming pool and sunbathing patio. With simply loosen up vacations this resort offers substantially more to the guest like culture exploration, marine life exploration, the taste of traditional dance, music and festivals and many more. Fiji is a small island nation with more than 110 occupants’ islands with the number of inhabitants in 898,760 as indicated by world bank 2016 and the capital of Fiji in Suva. people of these islands are largely dependent on nature for meeting their subsistence, economy and social needs. As this island is beautiful and attracts tourism, with the economy and social relation it also gives an invitation to pollution. Waste in Fiji causes serious problems in the marine environment. With a goal to address the distinctive waste difficulties over the area, more than 150 Pacific Island delegates have accumulated in Suva to examine difficulties, arrangements and activities as to this issue (FBC news, August 20, 2018).

Pollution is causing the whole natural environment dirty by means of waste products exempted by vehicles, man and natural disasters. One of the main causes of marine pollution is the plastic waste which was introduced to the world in the 1950s, people use it in various forms today and can be seen around the aquatic bodies (NOAA,2011) and Fiji is greatly affected by it. To create awareness of the water pollution in Fiji there are a lot of campaigns and social works been carried out for a long time, but the impact is large nowadays due to social media. Organizations like One World 365, global nomadic, GVI and many more helps volunteers to get the chance to help in creating place better and clean. Description of water pollution – Geographic location and type of water body, type of water pollution, primary and secondary stakeholders On the World Earth Day 46 volunteer’s aged from 2-year-old to 60-year-old gathered and collected 150 kilos of rubbish including Plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cans, glasses, car wheel, building materials, nappies and cigarette butts from beach front, roadside and mangrove areas (Dive News Wire, October 2, 2018)

On the World Earth Day, the manager of the Volivoli resort Nick Darling sent out a call to action to all of the expats and locals living in the region. The challenge involved a major clean-up of the surrounding coastal areas of Rakiraki and Volivoli point. (Dive News Wire, October 2, 2018). According to the resort’s managing director Natalie Darling, the initiative involved 35 students from Naria Primary School. The theme of this national environment awareness was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Volivoli resort has also empathized on recycling. Environment Minister Parveen Kumar Said also joined the cleaning program and said that the greatest environmental challenges of today’s time are plastic pollution. As an incentive, Volivoli Beach Resort offered free ice-cream, a movie night and a fun day Sunday BBQ with free beer at the end of a hard-working day hosted by resort owners the Darling family (The Fiji Times News Business, 10 June 2018). There is a cruise company which has decided to clean up plastic waste from the ocean and also spread knowledge among villagers and found some data about the type of waste found by them(Captain Cook Cruises, 2016).

Fiji island has over 170 marine protected areas which are a home for brilliant coral reefs and tropical fish. People of the island, as well as people from nearby villages, protect the whole island which makes it even more unique. All the people work together and have decided some rules and regulations regarding fishing, diving and other activities. By doing this, villagers are protecting their livelihoods by keeping fishing sustainable and ample and giving more tourism-related jobs. Fiji island is promoting environment-friendly resorts which are now more popular. Resorts grow their food organically on their own site for that they import very less number of outside products. They also offer many eco-friendly activities and even have a marine biologist on staff. 26% of the people in Fiji island are living in poverty. So, living in luxury resort in Fiji island doesn’t make any sense. But, they are using their tourism draw to grow in a sustainable and healthy way (Why Wait to See The World, 2018).

In summary, Fiji’s marine environment is subject to their activities which pose threats to its well-being and sustainability. Water pollution of Fiji is similar to the other parts of the world but it is more visible because of the small size of the area. Background of your H&T company – e. g. , sector of tourism, size of company, ownership (local or foreign), years in operation, significance of the above water body to tourism in this area and to the company Volivoli beach resort is a modern family owned and operated restaurant. It is located in the heart of in the heart of Fiji. The resort started out as a dive base for divers and later became one of the most luxurious resort in Fiji. The resort has a swimming pool with a bar in it. Scuba diving is now the main attraction at Volivoli beach. This resort is now a four-star deluxe property. The beach resort is located right next to the sea, volivoli beach resort is an island resort but has the added bonus of guests not having to leave the main island. The resort attracts a wide range of travelers which includes singles, couples and families seeking an calm holiday. Guest rooms are made in the traditional Fijian style with natural, sustainable materials. Room types which this resort provide: Studio rooms: The luxurious stand-alone studio private rooms has a beautiful uninterrupted ocean view. Fully air-conditioned queen size bed, two sofas, wifi and washing machine. This studio room is perfect for one family, which includes 2 adults and 2 children.

Vale Balavu- Twin king rooms: vale balavu rooms are beautifully finished in wood floor with two king size bed. This room also has hot beverage facilities. The vale balavu room is perfect for the family holiday in fiji. Events carried out near the resort: The corals are grown around the resort are some of the best and beautiful coral in the world, now the water near the resort is clean and clear because the traffic of ships and boats have reduced dramatically. Water is so clean that the guest can literally see the sea creatures like turtles, corals and fishes. Volivoli beach is considered as one of the best places in fiji to learn underwater diving. This resort has an open air classroom and beginners can get training from experts in open water diver course, then explore the shallow water right off the sand spit.

Activities include:

• Fishing
• Cave exploring
• Collecting shells
• Barefoot beach walk
• Raft building

About Dining: The resort serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast has a flexible menu, each and every menu is priced differently so the guest can choose anything from a simple toast and coffee to larged cooked breakfast with extra bacon and a side served fruit. Recommendations and solutions Before pitching the solutions and recommendations, it is important to know the causes of the pollution and the degree of harmful effects that it may have in the long term future of the resort and the people of the location. The following are some of the recommendations that we think will work in favour of the resort and the cleaning up of the water bodies.

Involving the local public in the cleaning initiatives

One effective way to do so is to involve local public in cleaning initiatives by continuing to invite young volunteers from Naria Public school which seemed to be an effective participant in the cleaning event. The resort could invite the students for their initiatives and this would help them understand the importance of a clean environment and help the island in the long run. Creating awarenessIncreasing awareness amongst the general public about hazards of water pollutions and the harmful effects of using and throwing plastics and other garbage by the water bodies. Unless they know the dark side of it, the public will continue to do the same.

As known, prevention is definitely better than cure. Going Legal Restricting usage of plastic near the water bodies can further reduce the pollutants to a greater extent. The government could help the resort and nearby enterprises to regulate the number of pollutants going in the water. They could secure the area with signboards and they could also charge fines for people dishonouring the rules. The more regulated it can be, the less polluted it will be.