Fiji - Yasawa Islands

How local communities have become part and parcel of tourism in Fiji's Yasawa islands (Sunset Beach Resort, Waya island)

The Yasawa islands are one of Fiji's tourist hotspots due to the easy access by the "Yasawa Flyer", an ultra modern catamaran. People of all ages, though mainly the younger travelers like to go island hopping on the so called 'Bula (=welcome) Pass", a 1-3 weeks "travel as much as you like" ticket.

People in the islands live from subsistence agriculture and fishing and there are no shops. Beside tourist resorts that are run by foreigners or Fijians from the mainland on leasehold land I have come across an interesting and inspiring example of community business.

Sunset Beach Resort on Waya island (as some other resorts in the region) is owned by one clan of the nearby village. Management functions of the resort rotate on an annual basis between the families of this clan. The resort trains and employs people from the village from their and other clans. In order to give nearly everyone an opportunity to earn and learn resort staff rotates on a weekly basis.

Christina Röhrer,
Fiji Islands