Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
01/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2026 18:44
LAKEBA RECLAIMS ITS PLACE IN FIJI’S TOURISM STORY
As the sun rose over Tubou village, Lakeba stood at the centre of a moment its people have waited generations to witness.
For the first time, a high-level delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, set foot on the island, signalling that the quiet heart of Lau is now firmly part of Fiji's tourism conversation.
Accompanied by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the International Organization for Migration, and representatives of government agencies and NGOs, the visit marked more than protocol - it marked possibility.
For Mata ni Tikina Kelepi Gucake, the occasion carried deep meaning.
"This is not just a visit," he said. "It is the beginning of a future we have carefully planned for."
Lakeba's story, however, is not new. During the era of tribal warfare in the 19th century, the island was a strategic port under the influence of Tongan warlord Enele Maʻafu.
Ships once anchored off its shores, bringing traders, craftsmen and missionaries. Lakeba became a centre of commerce, diplomacy and cultural exchange long before tourism was ever imagined - a gateway between Fiji, Tonga and the wider Pacific.
Only five months after the installation of the Tui Nayau, the island has begun implementing its Strategic Development Plan for 2026-2031.
Shaped through traditional processes, the plan will be taken directly to families, yavusa and tokatoka, ensuring development grows from the grassroots.
Tourism, long concentrated in western Viti Levu, is now being reimagined for Lau.
Delegates inspected potential tourism sites and walked through places layered with history - Nakaukilagi, the former residence of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna; the chiefly burial grounds; and the stone marking the arrival of Christianity to Fiji through Lau.
Today's vision reaches beyond heritage. Plans include expanding the airstrip, upgrading the wharf to welcome cruise liners, and improving roads, water supply and communications - long-standing challenges for outer-island communities.
For Lakeba, the visit is both a return and a renewal - a reclaiming of its historic role as a place of connection, trade and opportunity, now reshaped for a new generation.
For the first time, a high-level delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, set foot on the island, signalling that the quiet heart of Lau is now firmly part of Fiji's tourism conversation.
Accompanied by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the International Organization for Migration, and representatives of government agencies and NGOs, the visit marked more than protocol - it marked possibility.
For Mata ni Tikina Kelepi Gucake, the occasion carried deep meaning.
"This is not just a visit," he said. "It is the beginning of a future we have carefully planned for."
Lakeba's story, however, is not new. During the era of tribal warfare in the 19th century, the island was a strategic port under the influence of Tongan warlord Enele Maʻafu.
Ships once anchored off its shores, bringing traders, craftsmen and missionaries. Lakeba became a centre of commerce, diplomacy and cultural exchange long before tourism was ever imagined - a gateway between Fiji, Tonga and the wider Pacific.
Only five months after the installation of the Tui Nayau, the island has begun implementing its Strategic Development Plan for 2026-2031.
Shaped through traditional processes, the plan will be taken directly to families, yavusa and tokatoka, ensuring development grows from the grassroots.
Tourism, long concentrated in western Viti Levu, is now being reimagined for Lau.
Delegates inspected potential tourism sites and walked through places layered with history - Nakaukilagi, the former residence of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna; the chiefly burial grounds; and the stone marking the arrival of Christianity to Fiji through Lau.
Today's vision reaches beyond heritage. Plans include expanding the airstrip, upgrading the wharf to welcome cruise liners, and improving roads, water supply and communications - long-standing challenges for outer-island communities.
For Lakeba, the visit is both a return and a renewal - a reclaiming of its historic role as a place of connection, trade and opportunity, now reshaped for a new generation.
Government of the Republic of Fiji published this content on January 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 18, 2026 at 00:44 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]