The tourism industry in Fiji is one dimensional in nature, Tourism Minister Pita Nacuva said in Parliament yesterday. Speaking during his contribution to the debate on the President's speech, Mr Nacuva said tourism activities were concentrated in the Western Division. "There is a perception and it seems apparent that there is an imbalance in the spread of tourism development in the country," he said. Mr Nacuva said tourism in Fiji was largely accommodation-based, which accounted for 80 percent of earnings in tourism in the industry. He said Fiji, as a remote tourism destination, could not afford to be have a resort-based industry as the face of tourism is changing. Mr Nacuva said an Asian Development Bank assessment on the mid-term review had spoken against the wisdom of major hotel development in a fragile island environment. "As a consequence, the character of our tourism suffers because of its one dimensional nature," Mr Nacuva said. Government is banking on the cultural activities sector to be the new face of Fiji tourism but this now only accounts for 10 per cent of the Fiji tourism industry. He said the world tourism industry had changed from the fun and excitement of scenery to the knowledge of experience of the tourist. Mr Nacuva said an assessment carried out by the Annual International Visitor Survey indicated there was a lack of secondary tourism activities in Fiji. "It (Fiji) is a small country and its tourist clientele need to get out to feel the vibrancy of the people and culture," Mr Nacuva said. He said the changing face of tourism now had travellers who wanted interaction with the cultures of the countries they were visiting. Government's plans to package a cultural face has only been visible in 2004 but the changes are too early to be felt. (Source: Fiji Times 11/08/2005)