Was Fiji’s tourism chief pushed or did he jump?
Bill Gavoka, Fiji’s tourism boss denies he was pushed, saying that he resigned, from his post as CEO of Fiji Visitors Bureau, his resignation coming only a week after criticising the country’s military regime for expelling New Zealand’s top diplomat.
Viliame [Bill] Gavoka, the chief executive of the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau, cited personal reasons for his departure, the Fiji Times reported.
Board chairman Patrick Wong said Gavoka’s resignation was effective immediately as he wanted to pursue personal interests, but the Suva-based Pacific news agency Pacnews said it understood Gavoka was forced to resign for criticising Fiji’s decision to expel New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green.
The military regime had accused Green of meddling in Fiji’s domestic affairs, a charge New Zealand denies. New Zealand will announce a range of fresh sanctions against the Pacific nation next week, with Gavoka last week telling the Fiji Times there was a belief in the tourism industry that Green’s expulsion “is worse than a coup”.
He said there was a lot of anxiety in the tourism industry over the situation.
“It is very serious as New Zealand leaders are urging their people not to come to Fiji.
Tourism, I can say, relies on goodwill, but that goodwill is absent right now at the leadership level.”
Gavoka said his resignation had nothing to do with a visitors bureau board meeting on Tuesday, adding, “I’d like to take it easy for a while.” “It’s been a wonderful five years.” “I’ll look for opportunities, there are plenty in the world today”.
Fiji Islands Hotels and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said Gavoka was needed to help the recovery of Fiji tourism adding that the industry has suffered in the wake of the military’s December coup, “But I respect he has reasons for his decision.” “We have one less influential player at a time when all hands are needed on deck.”
There was considerable discussion regarding Gavoka’s future druing the recent Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange, with several industry leaders highly critical of his and FVB’s approach to recovery of Fiji’s tourism industry, with a number stressing that that it was time for Gavoka to go and fresh more experienced blood, possibly from outside being brought in.
A report by The Mole, The Fiji Times and AAP
John Alwyn-Jones
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