Fiji is moving to a broader tourism regulatory framework under the Tourism Act 2026, replacing legislation that has focused primarily on hotels and guest houses for more than five decades.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka told Parliament Tuesday that the government would implement the new framework through a managed transition, giving existing tourism businesses time and support to meet the new requirements.
Businesses currently licensed under the Hotels and Guest Houses Act 1973 will have their licences and approvals recognised for up to 12 months after the new Act takes effect. This will allow operators to transition to the Tourism Enterprise Register.
The new framework will cover a wider range of tourism businesses, including accommodation providers, tour operators, guides, dive operators and other tourism experiences.
Businesses will be classified under a Tourism Classification System and, after meeting applicable legal and tourism requirements, issued a Recognition Certificate. The Tourism Enterprise Register will be publicly accessible.
Gavoka said the reform was not intended to establish another licensing system, but to create a Recognition Pathway and Fiji Tourism Standards that would allow tourism businesses to progressively improve quality, sustainability and compliance.
The classification system will include Community, Indigenous and Micro Tourism Enterprises as well as small, medium and large operators.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is developing regulations, administrative systems, registration procedures and industry guidance ahead of the Act's commencement. It will also conduct targeted awareness and industry engagement to explain registration requirements, classification, applicable standards and transition timelines.
The government expects the new framework to provide clearer rules and nationally consistent standards while improving recognition of tourism operators that meet quality and sustainability requirements.
For the government, the Tourism Enterprise Register is also expected to provide better information to support tourism policy, planning and industry development. Visitors are expected to benefit from greater confidence that tourism enterprises operate under recognised national standards.
The commencement date for the Tourism Act 2026 will be appointed by the minister and will be determined based on the government's operational readiness.
