“Tourism and sustainability go hand in hand, and recycling plays a vital role in reducing waste and preserving our environment and eventually our planet. But we also want to look at ways to do more than just make recycling a priority in the tourism industry.”
That was the message from Fantasha Lockington, Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association CEO at the Global Recycling Day 2023 event at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort today.
The event centered on the theme of “Plastic-free Pacific: A Plea” and engaged attendees in roundtable discussions about various aspects of waste management including the need for more focused activism, challenges faced in the field, innovative ideas, and policy alignment.
Chief Guest, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka in his speech highlighted the role that the industry can play in promoting recycling and reducing plastic waste in the Pacific region.
Meanwhile Lockington emphasised, “Collectively we can be part of proactive and innovative solutions, and partner with others to create widespread awareness in schools, businesses and across industries. We can also pressure national priorities in this area to ensure wider alignment across regulatory and enforcement bodies so that it’s not just about relying on specific sectors to make the difference. We can ALL make a more impactful difference together to change the national behaviour towards recycling.”
