Cruise ship visits help Banabans

[Stacey King]

FIJISUN Newspaper Daily ENews writer : CAROLINE RATUCADRA 11/6/2011

The brief stop by tourists on board cruise ships to Rabi Island has ensured a
better spread of the tourism dollar to the isolated island’s economy.

So far this year, three cruise liners have visited the island, namely Tui Tai
Expeditions, Captain Cook Cruises and the recent being Blue Lagoon Cruises.

Women on Rabi Island seized the opportunity last week to showcase and sell
handicraft, virgin coconut oil (VCO) and its by-products to visiting tourists.

On Wednesday, a vessel from the Blue Lagoon Cruises stopped over at Rabi as
visitors paid a brief visit to children at Banaban Primary School in Nuku
Village.

Banaban Women’s Organisation president, Terikano Takesau said the arrival of
cruise ships to the island enabled women to sell their craftwork, skills and
products.

Ms Takesau said all the handicrafts, VCO and its by-products were displayed
along the road for tourists to see the potential the island women had in making
use of the available resources.

“We have a craft centre for the women which is looked after by a women’s
interest officer.

“Because the women live far from each other, we help showcase and sell their
products from the centre,” Ms Takesau said.

She said the opportunity to market their products from the island is hard.

However, the brief stops by cruise ships help the women sell their products
to tourists.

“Despite their isolation to markets on the mainland, these women continue to
create their own artwork and supply it to the handicraft centre.

“At the centre we try to then sell them to tourists, Government workers and
visitors to the island,” Ms Takesau said.

She said the income generated from the sales goes back to the women to help
in their familie’s livelihoods.