Tourism, Economy and Culture
Until 1987, it was the policy of the Fiji government that the Yasawa Group was closed to land-based tourism. There has been limited cruise operations since the 1950s, but passengers had to stay aboard their ships. Local residents benefited little from the passengers presence.
Due to its freehold real-estate status, three budget resorts were operating on Tavewa island since the early 1980s.
Since the Fijian government lifted the restrictions on land-based tourism in the Yasawa Group, a number of resorts have been established there.
Areas of the Yasawas were the locales for the 1980 filming of the romance adventure film The Blue Lagoon.
Tourism is growing in importance. Permission is required to visit all islands in the group except Tavewa. The home of the Tui Yasawa, the Paramount Chief of the Yasawa Islands, is at Yasawa-i-Rara, on Yasawa Island, but the largest village is Nabukeru.
Read more about this topic: Yasawa Islands
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