Page 13 - Islands Business May-June 2022

Tourism Tourism

Cook Islands operators are also looking to Fiji and Tahiti for suggestions for improving the sustainability of the tourism
workers. sector. These included increasing wages, providing more
“It’s meant that the there’s been wage reviews, it means opportunities for upskilling workers, establishment of an in-
that supply and demand has naturally increased the rate of surance scheme or a reserves fund for tourism employees, so
pay on the island. It means that instead of the employer… that financial support is on hand during times of crisis or hard-
holding all the cards, it’s flipped a little bit and the employee ship, increased unionisation of tourism workers, and stronger
suddenly has the power. So, I think perhaps there was a little environmental protections to safeguard natural resources for
bit of balance that was needing to happen. And that has future generations amongst others.
certainly happened. But what we want to ensure...is that, you While respondents had differing views on their social,
know, we’re paying for productivity,” Scott says. physical, financial, and spiritual wellbeing, overall, “the posi-
Back in Fiji, FHTA this month signed an MOU with the tive impacts on social wellbeing outweighed the negatives
National Union of Hospitality, Catering and Tourism Industries for many of the respondents. COVID gave them the chance to
Employees (NUHCTIE) for a collective agreement template for connect with others, reconnect with culture, and create long
hotel workers. FHTA Human resources chair and Tanoa Hotel lasting bonds that the hustle and bustle of normal life would
Group GM, Narend Kumar, said: “As part of FHTA’s ongoing not have given them the time to do.”
efforts of bargaining in good faith and maintaining amicable “We have little, but we survive,” a former Samoan tourism
industrial relations, especially now with tourism moving very worker said.
quickly from recovery mode to full operations; we want to
maintain fair and equitable employment conditions industry- Additional reporting by contributors
wide.” editor@islandsbusiness.com
In their study, Scheyvens and Movono made some specific

FARM TO TABLE TO MEMORY

Hidden inside the golf course “If they planted guava, they’ll
on Denarau is a burgeoning farm. see the progress of the guava. For
Fiji National University graduate kids, if they plant something, their
Shahil Ram has been managing memory is going to remain. And if
the plot for the Marriott group they return to Fiji, they’ll say, ‘Hey
for a year, and despite suffering mom, I planted this.’ “
a slight setback because of the While the hotel is crafting a
torrential rain in parts of Fiji’s new guest experience, Ram is also
western province recently, hopes personally motivated by Fiji’s health
to be welcoming guests to his and agriculture challenges.
domain soon. “In Fiji there’s not many people
Ram aims to supply farm doing organic farming. We are
produce, vegetables, fruit and basically motivating all the people
garnishes such as micro-herbs, to stay healthy, eat healthy and be
to the hotels’ kitchens. He’s happy, that’s what we are promoting
taken an organic approach and is here.
working with FRIEND (Foundation “To be honest, agriculture is a
for Rural Integrated Enterprises blue-collar job, it’s not a white-
& Development) to ensure it collar job. Now, I’m looking at the
can meet international organic young kids, they are more into
standards. white-collar jobs. This is why I’m
“We’re going to welcome the here, creating a pathway for the
guests to visit the farm, have a young ones to see what you can do
walk-through, pick the vegetables to protect our nation.
they want to eat. We’re going to “FNU graduates are coming, the
create a small environment for attachment they are doing it, [we
them where they can plant and say] come over, have an attachment,
create that moment,” Ram says. create memories, gain experience,
“When they return home, we’re going to send them the photos and then you can have your own farm and operate and sell the
of what they have planted as a memory to them. We need to be things. It’s a cash flow, you’re going to get everything. So, it’s a
unique. We are the first resort to do it. beautiful experience for them.”

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