Momi Bay Escape Offer
Duavata Collective is a group of like-minded tourism operators, steeped in sustainable practises.
The group believe tourism should enhance cultural heritage and environment.
The collective, as they are called, champion the interconnection between experiences within local communities, the environment and culture.
They promote leadership and traditional practice of resource owners in managing their land through a Conservation Leadership programme.
Duavata offers experiences that are founded on and inter-connected with the environment and its conservation.
What they do
■ Peer to peer support,
■ Conservation leader,
■ Mentorship, and
■ Peer to peer training.
The group got together in 2017 with only three members, and have expanded to 12 eco-tourism operators.
Members of the collective are:
■ Rivers Fiji, ■ Talanoa Treks,
■ Namosi Eco Resort,
■ Drua Experience,
■ Nukubati Private Island,
■ KokoMana,
■ Takalana Bay Resort,
■ Uprising Beach Resort,
■ Leleuvia Island Resort,
■ Barefoot Manta Island,
■ Lawaki Beach Resort, and
■ Waitika Farm.
Nukubati Private Island director and divemaster, Laura Bourke, said each of the members were in rural areas in each community. In Duavata, local guests were their best guests as they appreciated the tours that were on offer, Ms Bourke said.
Most of the tours offered were in areas of natural, serene, environment setting.
Guests comprise a majority of the guests locally who were from the bigger towns and cities.
Nukubati Private Island began operations 30 years ago, by her parents in Macuata, Bua.
It is on the Great Sea Reef off the
North coast of Vanua Levu.
It was the first resort to run solely on solar power back in 1991.
The resort has partnered with the local villagers nearby in sustainability practises.
They rely on these villages to provide fresh vegetables, labour, tours, and cultural knowledge.
“Eco-tourism has so much potential for growth because that is how we live everyday in Fiji.
“It just helps us embrace those ways and make it more sustainable.”
Ms Bourke urged more tourism operators to tap into their local and nearby communities as it would help local and hopeful international tourists experience the real Fiji