Fiji’s iconic tourism and hospitality organisation – The Rosie Travel Group, blazed yet another trail with the launch of Fiji’s first ever fleet of electric tourist passenger vehicles on 17th April 2024 – as part of its contribution to the sustainable transformation of Fiji’s tourism industry.
The initiative marks Rosie as the first travel company in Fiji to offer international visitors a completely zero-emission hotel transfer service.
Rosies Group General Manager, Mr Eroni Puamau said, “We are celebrating our 50th Year in Tourism this year. With this long history, Rosies has always been at the forefront of major change and innovation in tourism. The next frontier for our business is sustainable practises. It is important that we are responsible for how we want our tourism future to be – one that is sustainable in its care for our environment and, for those with whom we bring into the country to share it with.”
This is a $1.0 million dollar investment into the future for the Rosie Travel Group and provides an alignment with the Fijian government’s National Sustainable Tourism Framework as the company partners with the private sector and environmentally conscious travellers to respond to the climate change challenge.
In 2023 after undertaking a thorough review of EV vehicles that would be suitable for Fiji’s market conditions, Rosies partnered with Vision Motors Fiji to source the 7-seater MPV MIFA9 manufactured in China by MAXUS – already very popular in Australia and New Zealand with a driving range of over 400 kilometres.
In addition to this, an important consideration was finding a sustainable charging solution. This has been done in partnership with Solar Hub Fiji – who have installed what is Fiji’s first-ever solar-powered fast-charging stations at the Rosie Transport Hub, which will allow the EV fleet to operate at an optimum level.
Managing Director of the Rosie Travel Group, Mr Tony Whitton said: “This is a $1.0 million dollar investment by our company. This includes the fleet of EV vehicles but also Fiji’s first ever Direct Current Solar powered fast charging stations meaning we can recharge our cars from 1% to 100% in 20 minutes and get them back on the road. Today marks the first step, as we move towards our target of having a 100% fleet of zero emission vehicles. As a Fijian family-owned company, sustainability and the preservation of our pristine environment is important to us. Being able to power these vehicles using sunshine – which our tropical island has an abundance of, is really an exciting development. We know this will be a long journey. But we have made a start.”
