1. Could you begin by introducing Pearl Ventures and its role in Fiji, from The Pearl Resort & Spa to your wider development vision for Pacific Harbour? How does the group contribute to Fiji’s tourism, property, and economic development?
Pearl Ventures is a Fiji-based development company focused on creating projects that support long-term growth and investment in Pacific Harbour and Fiji more broadly.
We are currently working with The Pearl Resort & Spa in Pacific Harbour, constructing a 600 seat convention centre, one of the largest on that side of the island. The resort has been operating for many years and underwent a major transformation in 2015, increasing its capacity to 210 rooms. It welcomes guests from all over the world, with North America representing its second-largest source market.
The resort currently consists of smaller conference facilites hosting local and international conferences, along with weddings. There is a growing demand for larger MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) facilities.
We are also developing Pearl Pacific Estates, a residential community designed to create a lifestyle destination in Pacific Harbour. The area already offers a wealth of activities and attractions, and our ambition is to bring these different elements together.
Our vision is to contribute to the long-term growth of Pacific Harbour by creating an integrated destination that combines tourism, residential living, investment and lifestyle opportunities.
2. Pacific Harbour is central to your vision, as you have been describing. Why have you focused on this part of Fiji, and what is the broader ambition behind the developments you are progressing there?
The owners of the resort are originally from Papua New Guinea. When they first came to Fiji, they travelled around the country but really fell in love with Pacific Harbour. They immediately recognized its potential and the opportunities for investment.
They acquired the resort in 2012, expanded it in 2013 and have continued investing in Pacific Harbour ever since.
With the residential community now progressing, we are also exploring additional projects, including a retirement village. Many Fijians living abroad would like to return home to retire, and we have also received expressions of interest from the local community.
There is a sizable Australian and New Zealand community in Pacific Harbour, alongside residents from North America. We want to tap into these markets by creating a safe and welcoming community with shared facilities, activities and spaces that bring people together.
Ultimately, our ambition is to develop a broader lifestyle destination that offers opportunities for people to live, invest and enjoy everything the region has to offer.
3. You are advancing several major projects, including a convention centre, alongside plans for a retirement village, a medical facility and purpose-built film and sound stages. Could you walk us through this portfolio and explain how the different components fit together?
Pearl Pacific Estates is our residential subdivision and community development, but we felt that we needed to offer more than just residential properties. We want to create a community that contributes to the long-term growth of Pacific Harbour and Fiji.
The retirement village is another important component, as it will help bring additional residents and activity into the area.
Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting numerous film and production companies at the resort. Through these experiences, we identified an opportunity to develop dedicated production facilities in Fiji, providing international production companies with the infrastructure and support they need to operate seamlessly.
We have been in discussions with several North American companies, including partners from Connecticut who have visited the resort on multiple occasions and are actively assisting us in bringing this vision to life.
While the project is still in its early stages, it is one that I am particularly passionate about. Establishing Fiji as a destination for international film production has been a personal ambition of mine, and I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to turn this vision into reality.
The medical facility is also closely connected to our retirement development. We envisage a retirement community centered on independent living, but residents also need the reassurance of having medical services nearby.
These projects are interconnected: the residential community, retirement facilities, healthcare infrastructure and film production will each contribute to a more diversified and sustainable regional economy.
4. What makes Pearl Pacific Estates distinctive as a significant residential and lifestyle development, and what will it offer prospective property owners?
Pearl Pacific Estates is located in what is known as the adventure capital of Fiji. Our ambition is to create a lifestyle destination where property owners can enjoy everything Pacific Harbour has to offer.
Residents will have access to the resort's marina, golf course and numerous activities, including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and shark diving, which is rated number three in the world. All these experiences will be available right on their doorstep.
We are actively targeting buyers from Australia, New Zealand and North America. These include families looking to invest in Fiji, Fijians living abroad who would like to return home, and international buyers interested in acquiring an investment property they can enjoy when visiting the country.
Pearl Pacific Estates will also feature waterfront lots, giving owners the opportunity to have their own small boats.
We want to offer more than a property investment: we are creating a lifestyle where people can enjoy the natural beauty, adventure and facilities of Pacific Harbour while becoming part of a welcoming community.
5. Retirement villages and medical facilities are becoming increasingly important components of modern lifestyle and wellness destinations. What opportunities do you see in these sectors, and how could they contribute to Fiji's development?
Tourism is one of Fiji's strongest industries, but it also creates a significant platform for the development of other sectors. We believe retirement is one of those opportunities.
Wellness is a major sector internationally, and it is also emerging in Fiji. There is considerable potential to develop this market, but we need the appropriate infrastructure and investment to support its continued growth.
By developing retirement communities alongside medical facilities, we can respond to an increasing demand for lifestyle and wellness-oriented living while creating additional opportunities for Fiji.
6. Fiji has already hosted several major international productions. What is the thinking behind developing dedicated film and production facilities in the country, and what could this mean for its economy and international profile?
Fiji has hosted several major productions over the years. The Survivor series, for example, has been filmed in the country for a long time and has helped put Fiji on the international map.
There are significant opportunities in both Hollywood and Bollywood. Production companies are increasingly looking to explore new destinations and locations for their projects.
Last year, we welcomed Hallmark to the resort. They filmed extensively around Pacific Harbour, and it was an incredible production experience.
This reinforced our belief that there is an opportunity to establish a dedicated production facility and soundstage in Fiji.
We genuinely believe there is room for a purpose-built film and production industry in Fiji. By putting the necessary infrastructure in place, we can attract more international productions, diversify the economy and establish another source of long-term growth for the country.
7. Developing projects of this scale inevitably involves challenges relating to infrastructure, investment and capacity. What are the biggest opportunities and obstacles, and what improvements are needed to support Pacific Harbour's development?
There are certainly challenges. Development costs can be high, particularly because some of the materials required need to be imported, as not everything is readily available in Fiji.
However, what makes Fiji particularly exciting is that there are so many opportunities beyond tourism. We are looking at residential development, retirement communities and medical facilities, among other sectors.
There is considerable potential for investment, and I believe this is an exciting time to be developing projects in the country.
8. How do your projects support local employment, training and partnerships with the community and regional suppliers?
Across all our projects, we work closely with local communities and employ a significant number of people on site.
With our residential development, in particular, we want to create something that we can be proud of, but equally something that local residents will feel proud of.
We are excited about the opportunities these developments will generate, particularly in terms of employment and economic activity throughout the Pacific Harbour region.
There are already numerous tourism opportunities in the area, and with The Pearl and the Nanuku Resort also looking at expansion, we see further potential to generate employment and support the local economy.
It is important to us that our developments benefit the wider community. We want to create opportunities for local people while building projects that Pacific Harbour residents can genuinely feel proud of.
9. With direct Fiji Airways services connecting Fiji to Los Angeles and San Francisco, what opportunities do you see for attracting more American visitors, residents, investors and businesses, particularly from California and the West Coast?
The regular direct flights operated by Fiji Airways from Los Angeles and San Francisco are extremely beneficial.
The resort is actively marketing itself in North America, particularly on the West Coast, with a strong focus on diving and adventure tourism. There is a significant market of divers interested in travelling to Fiji to experience its famous shark diving and other marine activities.
The MICE sector is another important opportunity. With the new convention centre, the resort plans to target incentive programs and conferences, bringing international groups to Pacific Harbour to experience the adventure capital of Fiji.
We are also well positioned geographically, being relatively close to the capital, which provides additional advantages for visitors and business travelers.
North America, and particularly California, represents an important growth market for us. Direct air connections, adventure tourism and the new convention facilities create an excellent opportunity to attract more American visitors and international business events to Pacific Harbour.
10. Looking ahead, what is your vision for Pearl Ventures and Pacific Harbour over the next five to ten years?
We are very excited about the infrastructure we are bringing to the region and the opportunities this will create for investment and long-term growth.
Pacific Harbour has considerable potential across several sectors, including tourism, residential development, retirement communities, medical facilities and film production.
Our ambition is to bring all these elements together and establish Pacific Harbour as an even more recognized destination within Fiji, particularly in the North American market.
By connecting these different sectors and investing in the necessary infrastructure, we believe Pacific Harbour can become a major centre for tourism, lifestyle, investment and economic diversification in Fiji.
11. Finally, what message would you like to share with Los Angeles Times readers about Fiji, Pacific Harbour and the opportunities to visit, invest and build partnerships in the country?
My message would be to look at Fiji differently.
By all means, come, and experience the beaches, the islands and the exceptional hospitality that Fiji is famous for. These are all wonderful reasons to visit.
But I would also encourage people to look beyond tourism and explore the business opportunities, infrastructure developments and investment potential that the country offers.
There is so much opportunity here, and I would encourage American readers not only to visit Fiji, but also to consider it as a destination for investment, business partnerships and long-term growth.
