Fiji has marked a milestone for the regional wellness and tourism industry by hosting the CIDESCO World Congress for the first time in the South Pacific.
The 2026 CIDESCO World Congress was officially opened in Nadi by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka, bringing together beauty, spa and wellness professionals from Fiji and around the world.
Held from 29 to 31 August at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa, the Congress is hosted by Nama Fiji and its CIDESCO-accredited Spa Academy Fiji.
CIDESCO, the Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie, is an international organisation for professional beauty and spa therapy, with a presence in more than 56 countries and more than 230 accredited schools, salons and spas. The organisation is also marking its 80th anniversary this year.
“For the first time in CIDESCO’s history, the Congress meets in the South Pacific, and it meets here, in Fiji,” Gavoka said.
He said internationally recognised training and certification would strengthen Fiji’s wellness tourism sector by providing locally trained therapists with qualifications recognised around the world.
Gavoka also highlighted opportunities to connect wellness tourism with locally produced goods and rural livelihoods, pointing to Nama Fiji’s use of nama harvested from Fiji’s reefs, including by women in rural communities.
“This is how tourism should work for a small island nation: the value stays here, in our villages and with our people,” he said.
The Government is looking to build on the Congress by supporting more Fijian therapists in achieving internationally recognised standards, strengthening the competitiveness of local spas and salons, and creating pathways for young Fijians to pursue careers in the growing wellness industry.
The Congress programme also features competitions under the 2026 theme, “Wellness from the Sea”, as well as a careers expo and industry networking opportunities.
