CSV Hub & MCTTT- Tourism Stakeholders Workshop Fiji

Australian Volunteers International’s Child Safe Volunteering (CSV) Hub project conducted a one-day workshop for the tourism stakeholders in Nadi. This workshop was hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, (DFAT) Post in Fiji.   The one-day workshop was held on 22^nd of October, 2020 at Westin Resort in Denarau.

The workshop was opened by the Honourable Minister for MCTTT, Mr. Faiyaz Siddique Koya. Minister delivered a very powerful speech in relation to the role that tourism operators play towards protection of children amongst the tourism sector. Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, your Excellency, John Feakes also delivered his address during the opening.

DFAT’S Development Counsellor for Cooperation, Ms. Joanna Houghton also attended the workshop. Welcome speech was also delivered by the CSV Hub Coordinator, Ms. Amita Prasad. Another welcome address was also delivered virtually by the CSV Hub Project Lead, Ms. Fiona Williams.

Participants for the workshop were from the tourism sector, including government ministries, tourism operators Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA), Society for Fiji Travel Associates (SOFTA), NGO’s, corporate tourism businesses, Australian Volunteers Program and media.

The aim of the workshop was to facilitate knowledge sharing about responsible tourism and child safeguarding amongst business owners in the tourism sector. The workshop also enhanced the knowledge and understanding of tourism stakeholders on Child Safe Tourism practices and measures that can be put in place. Tourism operators were also informed of the important role they play in keeping children and communities safe as they are the ambassadors of Fiji to the tourists.

Tourism operators greatly appreciated the learnings from the workshop and are looking forward to implementing activities to embed Child Safeguarding into their existing work at the organisational level. They highlighted the need to continue to network through existing platforms within the tourism sector and the need to have Child Champions within the sector.

The CSV Hub will continue to provide technical support and resources to its stakeholders and CSV Hub would like to congratulate everyone that attended the workshop.

Amita Prasad

CSV Hub Coordinator Pacific