MSME Council

🌺 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐜𝐭

The MSME Council and the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council - WEBC were pleased to have our advocacy piece featured in The Fiji Times through Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF)’s “Voice of the Private Sector” column.

The article reflected on the passing of the Tourism Act 2026 and what it means for Fiji’s small tourism operators - including homestays, village stays, farm stays, short-term rentals, Airbnb-type accommodation, community tourism operators, cultural experiences, women-led enterprises and other tourism-related MSMEs.

We thank the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for leading this important reform and for engaging with stakeholders during the consultation process.

From the MSME Council and WEBC perspective, regulation should guide small operators and women entrepreneurs into the system - not frighten them away from formalisation.

We welcome key features of the Act, including MSME representation on the National Tourism Council, a tiered compliance & recognition pathway, Tourism Fund support, Tourism Fiji promotion for registered enterprises, and mediation/arbitration as dispute resolution options.

The next key phase will be the development of the regulations, criteria, forms, fees, self-assessment tools and guidance materials. We look forward to continuing engagement with the Ministry, FCEF, WEBC, the MSME Council and wider MSME networks to ensure implementation is practical, affordable and supportive for small operators and women-led tourism enterprises.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐌𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬 - 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰.

Vinaka vakalevu to Duavata Collective | Knox Fiji - Market Collective | Fiji Social Media Entrepreneurs | Fiji Islands Dance Association | Women in Agriculture Network | Tourism Asociation | Sector Business Development Services for contributing and supporting the submission.

🙌Here are the steps to follow if anyone would like to start up a taxi base in your local area?!! Thank you Fiji Government for this usefull information