THE Mineral Resources Development Company is looking at spending more money to further develop the 200-acre Pearl Resort and golf course in Fiji.
A new marina apartment and resort expansion will include 96 two and three bedroom apartments, turning the existing resort into a 200-room resort.
Managing director Augustine Mano said the marina apartments would be centred on an exclusive pontoon marina development that would allow 36 private mooring berths plus luxury super yacht berths on a river frontage.
“This will be the best of its kind in Fiji and the South Pacific,” Mano said.
“Previous developers may not have been successful with this property because they may not have been any synergy between them and this land but to us the sago palms on the golf course are a sure sign of success.”
“The timing of this project has been a critical factor in our decision making.”
“Fiji is at the pinnacle of economic growth with tourism breaching new boundaries and with greater foreign investments in tourism setting a trend that will push Fiji beyond its past limitations.”
“And now with the addition of our new marina development and apartments, this property will offer everything one could possibly imagine under the sun … or rain.”
Within a marina complex will be a bar and grill that will overlook the boats and marina boardwalk. There are plans for a new fine-dining restaurant on the beach front, new and larger spa facilities within a Health & Wellness village centred on an inland pond within the property together with an exclusive gymnasium. Conference facilities will be increased to accommodate 4,900 guests complete with food and beverage outlets and a special fisherman’s bar called the Mai Bar will be developed on the river to accommodate the lucrative fishing and diving operations around the resort.
The Pearl Golf Course
The 18-hole Robert Trend Jones championship golf course is itself a great selling point for golf enthusiasts visiting or for future championships.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Saturday teed off to inaugurate the Prime Minister’s Pearl of the Pacific championship.
With Nasfund and the Lamana Group of company’s purchase and renovation of the Grand Pacific hotel right next to the presidential palace in Suva, PNG investment in the Fiji’s booming tourist trade is quite substantial.
The Grand Pacific, however, would cater exclusively for a niche business-oriented clientele, Nasfund Managing Director Ian Tarutia told The National.
Most Fiji hotels and resorts were primed for the tourist trade with only one other hotel in the capital really geared towards business clients.
The Grand Pacific is owned 50% by Nasfund PNG, 25% by Lamana Group and 25% by the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Nasfund and Lamana have done a similar investment in Solomon Islands and there is rumour that they might be entering Samoa with another investment of the same kind.
Source: The National, Wednesday 24th October, 2012
By FRANK SENGE KOLMA
