Page 14 - Islands Business May-June 2022

Tourism

UNPLUGGING AT NAMOSI ECO

RETREAT

By Leila Parina bures, he would need to replace it every three months. “For
me, that is not sustainable when you are wasting all your
Sustainability was the buzzword at the Fiji Tourism energy and money and effort to get sago palm…and then
Exchange, and some of the industry’s quiet pioneers were glad three months is all it takes for it to start crumbling because
to hear it. the weather is not right for it.”
“The only way to survive the pandemic was through He works with Nature Fiji to ensure any sago palm he
sustainability. The only way forward…would be through harvests is done so sustainability, as it is an endangered plant.
sustainable practices, for example, growing [our] own While the industry has been moving to plastic thatching, that
produce, and educating your own people,” said Danny Jason, also removes livelihood options for thatchers, says another
the founder of the Namosi Eco Retreat, a tourism business Duavata Collective member, Marita Manley. “There’s a big
operating out of the misty mountains of Fiji’s highlands. challenge in the tourism industry, we want to be keeping
The retreat’s guests eat locally harvested crops and that knowledge of thatching alive and we want to do it in a
authentic Fijian meals, sleep in Fijian bures, and experience sustainable way, but that requires skills and expertise to do
traditional and cultural activities. The Retreat also encourages it.”
“off-the-grid” living. The collective exhibited at the Fiji Tourism Exchange for the
“It’s an unplugged experience. We climb mountains, hike first time this year with their own booth and representation
to waterfalls, build bamboo raft, do sustainable farming,” on other booths.
Jason says. He started Namosi retreat with friends to welcome “We give credit back to them (Tourism Fiji) for recognising
guests. “They loved it so much and they told me, ‘You’ve us and recognising the small, medium, micro-tourism
got something good going on there, carry on.’ That’s where I businesses,” Jason says.
started from.” When Fiji’s borders were closed, Jason operated day trips
Fantasha Lockington at the Fiji Hotel and Tourism to locals and locally based expats, offering waterfall walks
Association would like to see more support for tourism and lovo lunches. Locals, including school groups, make
operators like Namosi Eco Retreat. “He's got a fantastic up the vast majority of Namosi Eco Retreat’s guests. Now
product and that's the kind of product people are looking for,” that the borders are open, business has picked up, with
she says. adventurous tourists also booking.
Namosi Eco Retreat is a member of the Duavata Collective, Jason says the Duavata Collective feels “our purpose is
a group of small tourism businesses around Fiji, “that engages to champion the connection between experiences in local
in community. We support each other and engage in shared communities and environment and culture. What brings us
values. [These include] conserving the ocean and rainforests,” together is our values.
Jason says. “We’re like the underground people. So please support us
While the collective has been at the forefront of and experience what we have to offer.”
sustainability efforts, Jason says it is a massive challenge.
For example, he says if he were to use sago palm to roof his editor@islandsbusiness.com

14 Islands Business, May-June 2022