We have a Seasonal 10% Off  Special  available for some dates over then next few months on our all-inclusive Resort discounted Diver Packages – Stay 5 nights or more and get an instant 10%  Discount.

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“Being awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence five years in a row and inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ is a true source of pride for the entire team at Matava and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Richard Akhtar, General Manager at Matava, Fiji…Untouched. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honourees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and book the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 340 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 225 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4.9 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 45 countries worldwide.

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Click here to download the article  Fijian Frontiers

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The Sustainability Award recognizes efforts to preserve the environment & local communities for the benefits of locals & visitors alike in developing & fostering both environmental & national conservation. It also assesses efforts to support cultural initiatives and promote public awareness and education in support of “Fiji Made” products by reducing their carbon footprint.

“We are extremely proud to win this award. We have been fortunate to win overseas and global awards for our environmental policies, but it is especially gratifying to be recognized at home by our colleagues in Fiji.” said Jean Mailliard, one of Matava Resort’s Directors.

Richard Akhtar, Managing Director of Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort said “At Matava, we are of course both happy and proud to receive this prestigious award. We find it even more encouraging that the industry, by rewarding environmental efforts, chooses to take a stand for the future of the environment we depend on.

The awards which have been in existence for 17 years, honor those who have made a significant input to Fiji’s most important industry. The prestigious awards are given to individuals, groups and companies in a broad range of categories; covering accommodation, restaurant and dining, tours and transportation, environmental and local sustainability. Winners were chosen as part of a nomination process which began late last year and closed in January. Recipients of the various awards have proven dedication, active participation and innovation in their fields of specialty, and have thus merited the esteem of the industry. Over the years, the AON Excellence in Tourism Awards has grown in prestige and now not only bestows recognition but serves as an incentive for individuals and companies to aspire to greatness in the sector.

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To view their stories visithttps://ourhome.fijiairways.com  – Where YOU also have a chance to WIN your very own amazing Fiji holiday.

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Read the latest article from Sport Diving Magazine   Fijian Frontiers

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With over 500 people attending the various activities during the two day weekend, the message was loud and clear, we need to protect our oceans, even from a Mile High!

The thank you was great!

Dear Richard,

On behalf of all the members of the Colorado Scuba Retailers Association and Colorado Ocean Coalition, we would like to extend a huge thank you for donating a vacation to Matava Resort to the Making Waves in Colorado event. With your support, the CSRA was able to raise over $10,000 to support the Colorado Ocean Coalition and the Ocean Foundation in their efforts to educate the public on ocean conservation and policy change for protection of our fragile oceans.

With over 500 people attending the various activities during the two day weekend, the message was loud and clear, we need to protect our oceans, even from a Mile High! From Jean-Michel Cousteau encouraging attendees to get out and dive, to our training representatives answering questions on the basics of scuba certification, the industry showed a great presence. In addition, our speaker representatives were able to educate attendees on safe diving practices and environmental protection efforts that are being made throughout our industry.

We would not have been able to make this event such a success without your help, so we thank you for contribution and support of this event. It is vital that the scuba industry continue to support environmental movements in ocean conservation and we look forward to a successful event next year as well. We want to create a lasting impression on all Colorado ocean lovers, showing the scuba industry cares about our oceans and is willing to do anything to protect the marine environment for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Miller
President, CSRA

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The Sisi Initiative Site Support Group from Tunuloa, Cakaudrove, was recognised for their sustainable management of natural resources.

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who is also in Brazil attending the world leaders summit at the Rio+ 20 United Nations conferences, was on hand to witness the group receiving the award. He congratulated the group for the initiative.

The group won the award for sustainably managing natural resources around the periphery of the Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area, providing the local population with jobs, food security and incentives to conserve the surrounding ecosystems.

Hollywood actor Edward Norton, who was master of ceremony for the night commended Fiji’s beauty to the Prime Minister.

He said he had visited Fiji four times in the past and considered Malolo Island’s underwater habitat as the best diving spot in the world.
Mr Norton said Tavarua Island was also the best surfing spot in the world.

Local community groups working in the area of sustainable development from three Pacific Island countries – Fiji, Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands are among the winners of the Equator Prize 2012. They form part of the 25 community groups selected from 812 nominations submitted by communities in 113 countries across the developing world.

The local group working to conserve the Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area in Fiji has won the prestigious Equator Prize for 2012. “The Sisi Initiative stood out among more than 800 entries as a remarkable demonstration of local development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities”, said Eileen de Ravin – manager of the Equator Initiative.The Equator Prize shines a spotlight on outstanding local and indigenous groups from across the world working towards sustainable development. The winners were announced at a special UNDP ceremony in New York last Friday, and representatives of winning communities will receive their prize –  of between $US 5,000 and $US 20,000 – at an award ceremony at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which will be held in Brazil in June 2012.

Establishment of the community-based Sisi Initiative was supported by the BirdLife Fiji Programme in 2006 in response to illegal logging, forest fires, overgrazing, agricultural encroachment and invasive alien species around the Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area. Important Bird Areas are sites that are of critical importance for the survival of wild birds and nature in Fiji and around the globe. Natewa Tunuloa covers large tracts of old-growth rainforest which support globally threatened birds such as Shy Ground-dove and Silktail.

In a short space of time the Sisi Initiative have made a big difference. “The establishment of over 6,000 hectares of community protected forest has been one of the greatest highlights of BirdLife’s work with local communities in Fiji”, said Don Stewart – BirdLife International’s Director for the Pacific.

The voluntary group has also worked to develop income-generating activities that are compatible with nature conservation. A model farm and a tree nursery have reduced the pressure on forest clearance. Furthermore, through projects such as handicraft and jewellery making communities have learnt to use raw materials from the environment to create products which generate income. This has added to the value of natural resources, and reinforced people’s motivati

on to conserve it for future generations.

Silio Lalaqila — a representative of Fiji’s Sisi Initiative — accepted the Equator Prize on behalf of the community group at a Rio+20 award ceremony. (© CI/Photo by Kim McCabe)

“Fiji’s Sisi Initiative has ensured that communities around Natewa Tunuloa understand the link between traditional livelihoods and the environment, making them more resilient and capable of withstanding changes to their lifestyle, environment and climate”, added Mr Stewart.

Site Support Groups like the Sisi Initiative are central to BirdLife’s work and one of the most practical ways of supporting local communities to conserve the places where they live. They demonstrate a new approach to the management of natural resources which couple biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in partnership with local people.

Their work is now being used as a model for other community based projects by BirdLife in Fiji, and their approach is being shared with local stakeholder groups at over 2,000 sites worldwide through BirdLife’s Local Empowerment Programme.

“The Sisi Initiative are providing a brighter future for themselves whilst providing a shining example for others to learn from and follow around the globe”, said Mr Stewart.

The work of the Sisi Initiative has been kindly supported by the GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP – implemented by UNDP), CEPF, UK Darwin Initiative and Australian Government Regional Natural Heritage Programme. CEPF unites six global leaders who are committed to enabling nongovernmental and private sector organizations to help protect vital ecosystems: L’Agence Française de Développement; Conservation International; The Global Environmental Facility; The Government of Japan, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; The World Bank.

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