Executive Summary
| Vanua ni Tui Cultural Center for the Study of the Fijian Culture of Wailevu is a cultural tourist destination. Adjacent is Wailevu Retreat, a two-phase 70 lodging units development with a wellness center and support facilities. Located in the village of Wailevu on the southeastern shore of Savusavu Bay on the island of Vanua Levu, Wailevu Retreat is a forty-five minute flight from the international airport at Nadi on the island of Viti Levu, followed by a forty-five minute drive from Savusavu airport.
There are multiple reasons why this is an ideal site for both cultural and eco-tourism. The Cultural Center site covers 11 acres and the retreat lodging site approximately 45 acres with 2000 feet of incredibly beautiful beach frontage. All Bures (units) have water views; half would be on stilts over the shallow bay water. This unique combination of a exquisite, white sandbeach with its azure, warm tropical waters, the lush, green jungle foliage, a historical site, herbal medicinal plants such as Kava for anxiety, and an abundance of English speaking, inexpensive native workers provide an economic opportunity to preserve a part of the Fijian Culture, provide employment, and create an important international destination for those interested in cultural and eco-tourism. The village of Wailevu remains untouched in its historical natural environment. The villagers still live as they always have, harvesting the land and sea for their food, building materials, and medicine. Fruit trees, edible plants and medicinal herbs and roots abound, along with the traditional knowledge of how to utilize them. Consequently, the herbs will be used in the Retreat Lodging's traditional Fijian spa. Local fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish will provide the food on the restaurant's tables. Locally grown wood, palms, and pandanus will be carved or woven into handicrafts, which will be sold in the shops. The mounds of the former Bures of the Tui homes of the Fijian Lords of Wailevu are well preserved and the formerly existing Bures can easily be restored and the villages of the clans that served the Tui rebuilt. |
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| Wailevu Retreat | ||||||
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| Aerial View of Savusavu | ||||||
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| Vanu ni Tui Site | ||||||
| The Market
The world's largest industry – travel and tourism – is driven, as by no other, by individual's decisions. The smallest players decide. This situation also reflects a global paradox: the more universal we become, the more tribal we act. The bigger and more competitive travel becomes, the more authentically distinctive to tourists we will make our culture. The more we integrate the world, the more we differentiate our experiences. The more exposure we have to other cultures, languages, and landscapes, the stronger our desire to experience them first hand. The growing expectations of the experienced traveler for all things cultural, exotic, and untrammeled by fellow tourists, have created enormous demand for specialty trips and tours. The industry has responded: cultural tourism and eco-tourism are two rapid growing segments of the travel industry. (Trends Analyst John Naisbett) |
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| Vanu ni Tui Site | ||||||
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| Dormant Volcanic Fijian Mountains | ||||||