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# News From Fiji re:Lau Opens Up To International Yacht Tourism Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
hardnosethehighway 04:22 UTC 10 Jun 2013 | Of interest to yachties and fans of Fiji everywhere Fiji’s Lau Group Opens Up To International Yacht Tourism Temporary port of clearance allows for direct foreign arrivals By Ilaitia Turagabeci SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, June 10, 2013) – LAU finally opens its doors wide to the world as its first temporary port of clearance opens this week. The arrival of 25 up-market yachts into Vanuabalavu today signals the start of a new era for Fiji's most outlying islands as they embrace yachting tourism on a big scale. Until 2010, Lau was closed to yachting for many years and was not listed on the cruising permit issued by the then Ministry of Fijian Affairs. The Lau islands could only be visited by invitation from a village headman with the approval of the Lau Provincial Council. When the government opened up the group of islands to yachties in 2010, it put Lau on par with the rest of Fiji's waters and islands. The only problem was that yachts arriving from ports upwind to the east from Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands and the US had to pass through Lau to be cleared in either Savusavu or Suva. Going back 100 to 130 nautical miles to enjoy the pristine surroundings in Lau waters was difficult against prevailing east-south-east winds and this posed a risk for yachts. The government - after hearing a proposal by the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association's marine operators sub-committee, under which marinas come under - agreed to open a temporary port for the yachting season at Nabavatu on Vanuabalavu. From today, Customs, immigration, biosecurity and health will be based at the Royal Exploring Isles Yacht Squadron, located in a sheltered bay at the top of Vanuabalavu. The yacht club - which was inaugurated by the then crown prince and now King of Tonga, Siaosi Tupou V, in 2003 - will also be home to some of the yacht owners who are part of the Oyster World Rally which sails into Fiji this week from Tonga. The rally, exclusive to owners of Oyster brand yachts, started in January in Antigua and will sail on to Savusavu, Port Denarau and Musket Cove Resort before heading for Vanuatu on its way back home. Marine operators subcommittee co-ordinator John Philp said they hoped to promote Lau as the gem in paradise to the world yachting community. "Lau is unique, virtually untouched because it was not exposed as Yasawa has been to yacht owners who travel the world looking for the perfect environment," he said. "It will give the people of Lau a chance to showcase their uniqueness. This is something we have worked hard at to promote to the people of Lau, to government and to the world of yachting." Mr Philp said Lau would gain popularity among yachting tourists as a result of the initiative. "This will increase not only the projected revenue for the Lau Group but also the Fiji yachting industry as a whole by opening Lau as a new attraction and making Fiji a better yachting destination," he said. According to the 2012 Fiji Yachting Tourism Survey, only 20 per cent of Fiji-cleared yachts visit Lau each year. Fifty-six per cent (370 yachts) of the 662 yachts that visited Fiji last year came from ports upwind of Lau, sailing non-stop past its islands to ports of entry at Savusavu, Levuka or Suva. With a port of clearance in Lau, the survey said approximately 2000 yachting tourists would perform their clearance there and would have easy access to visit the rest group. Mr Philp said this would open tourism potential for villagers. In its proposal to the Lau Provincial Council and the government, the sub-commitee said its objectives are to: Increase the number of visiting yachts in Lau; Benefit the people by providing legitimate revenue streams through yachting tourism; Preserve the marine environment by setting up marine protected areas (MPAs); Strengthen iTaukei traditions by providing opportunities to display such traditions; Create a strict code of conduct for yachts visiting the islands; and Improve border security throughout the group by increased Customs presence and forming partnerships with the yachting industry, villages and other parties With a yacht's stay estimated at an average of 45 days in 2012, the time required to cruise around north and southern Lau, and with a daily expenditure of $182 a yacht per day, revenue derived from cruising yachts and superyachts is estimated at around $2million. Mr Philp said this would go directly to the villages. For this week's rally, he estimates yachties will boost revenue in Lau by $100,000. Under the proposal for Lau, government will be required to staff the port of entry during the yachting season from April to October and the cost of this would be offset by fees paid by yachts for inward clearance formalities. Next week, a second rally organised by the Island Cruising Association will sail into Lau waters. While government officials are based there, they will conduct awareness programs with villagers on border security, biosecurity and health issues. Mr Philp said none of the businesses engaged in the yachting industry in Fiji would benefit from the Oyster Rally or the other yachts arriving into Vanubalavu between June 10 and June 20. "We are doing all of this at our cost in order to develop Lau as a yachting tourism destination." Fiji Times Online: http://www.fijitimes.com. |
Laszlo 17:26 UTC 11 Jun 2013 | Not sure if this is much of good news to anyone except to yachties. They must be the type of visitors spending the least amount of money on most islands they visit (maybe buying some coconuts or fish where locals sell it) as they sleep and eat on their boats. In any case, on most islands in Lau there are no services for visitors - I think even accommodation is only available on 2 or 3 of them, and you´d be lucky to find a village store, let alone restaurants to spend your money in. | 1
budgetkiwi 23:51 UTC 12 Jun 2013 | Yes this is possibly 'too much information' for the non yachtie. But many non yachties join up ( or hope to) with yachts while in the South Pacific and so yachting travel info should be encouraged rather than discouraged. Even noting some of the destinations for yachts e.g Savu Savu is helpful for the uninitiated who want to fulfil a dream of crewing on a yacht in the pacific In fact it would be more helpful for everyone to see more positive travel help and feedback on this forum rather than negative | 2
Laszlo 13:00 UTC 13 Jun 2013 | My dear Kiwi, as I recall, if anyone on this forum has been spreading negative "information" on this forum about Fiji (when comparing it to Samoa), that was yourself. Much of it downright inaccurate, BTW. I had a particular giggle about you saying how Fijians lack pride in their country and want to leave it, while Samoans are ah so proud of their country and culture. Perhaps you could compare how many Samoans and how many Fijians have already migrated to other countries - being in NZ, you will not have to look too far. Back to this topic, Lau Fijians, in particular, are more traditional than any Polynesian people I have seen. In fact many aspects of Tongan (!) culture are better preserved in Lau than in Tonga itself. | 3
peter_n_margaret 16:47 UTC 13 Jun 2013 | We were fortunate to visit northern Lau as part of a Blue Lagoon Cultural and Historical cruise in 2012. Special place! Special people! We wish them all the best. Cheers, Peter | 4
Laszlo 23:01 UTC 14 Jun 2013 | Ditto. (Though my visit to Southern Lau was not quite a cruise... ;-) | 5