As different trends evolve within the travel industry, volunteer tourism is one segment that is gaining momentum and hoping to capitalise on this soon to be thriving segment is Nadi Business woman Cathy Kumar who has set up a company called Build-A-Bridge volunteer Fiji.

Oversees volunteers with skills, experts in various fields or who just have a good heart and genuine desire to serve the people can sign up for placements in schools, care homes and community centres.

Volunteering is a concept that’s gaining a lot of popularity around the world. For tourists nowadays it’s not just about visiting places but making a difference in the lives of people.

For furtherr information, please contact Cathy Kumar at admin@buildabridgevolunteerfiji.org

Ocean Charters is proud to announce the commencement of charter services aboard MV Aurora, a 30ft classic ‘Pelin Topaz’ style launch, fitted for comfort with full protection from the elements, a toilet and running water. It can seat 12 adults and has a top speed of 30 knots.

The company is able to provide 24 hour exclusive inter island transfers, private charters, guided snorkeling adventures and island hopping services.

Ocean Charters offers number of services, including “Your Heart’s Desire” VIP/Honeymoon.

For further information, please contact General Manager, Mr. Nick Cooper at nick@oceanchartersfiji.com Of visit www.oceanchartersfiji.com

Frommer's, the US market leader in travel guides, has published a new "Frommer's Fiji" by veteran author Bill Goodwin. The 266-page first edition covers all aspects of travel to Fiji, including opinionated reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions in all price ranges. It is laced with practical information and entertaining anecdotes about the islands' history and culture.

If you are traveling to Fiji, check the latest Fiji travel packages for great deals offered by the resorts and hotels for all budgets.

Two journalists from Italy's national TV station RAI TRE were hosted in Fiji last month to work on a travel documentary entitled "Alle Falde del Kilimangagiaro". They commented most favourably on the tourism infrastructure, service and travel facilities of the Fiji Islands. For more information email.

The Regional Small, Medium & Micro-Enterprises (SMME) Forum to be funded by BizClim will be held in Apia, Samoa on 15 – 16 October 2008.

Under the BizClim support, up to 4 representatives from each Forum Country are to be invited to the SMMEF and this group is to include at least one Government Official, who would be responsible for Small Business Development in the respective countries.

American travel website TripAdvisor.com has revealed its Top 10 Hotels in the South Pacific. New Zealand picked up four of the ten spots, followed by Fiji Islands with three. Australia gained two entries and Cook Islands just one. However, it was the single Cook Islands hotel - Etu Moana on Aitutaki - which took out the first spot, and the two Australian resorts took out second and third placement.

The top 10 hotels were as follows: Etu Moana, Cook Islands; Mai Tai Resort, Australia; Tuscana Motor Lodge, New Zealand; Castaway Island, Fiji, Lalati Resort, Fiji; McHardy Lodge, New Zealand; Atlantis Marcoola, Australia; Azur, New Zealand; Nanuya Island, Fiji; and Maison de la Mer, New Zealand.

View information about resorts and hotels in the South Pacific.

An important milestone for Fiji's communications industry occurred today when the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Communications finally issued the Digicel Mobile group with a licence to provide mobile communication services in Fiji Islands. This followed extended discussion and negotiation between the Fiji government and Digicel.

Digicel have been building extensive networks throughout the islands and are expected to formally commence operations on 1st October 2008. This heralds a new age of healthy competition in the telecommunications section in Fiji islands. More services are expected to expand in rural areas and remote islands and Digicel's new licence is seen as a major stepping stone in achieving this.

The US Embassies of Papua New Guinea and Fiji Islands are currently inviting applications from citizens of nominated Pacific Island nations for the Humphrey Fellowships and Fulbright Scholarships. This follows the reinstatement of the Fulbright program in the region. The nations included in the scheme are PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru and Kiribati, and promotion is being assisted by Fulbright NZ.

Tavake Fusimalohi, award-winning editor of the Kele'a newspaper, has died in his home country of Tonga. Less than 2 months ago he was awarded the Media Association of Solomon Islands Award, recognised for his efforts in contributing to media freedom in the South Pacific region. He was popular both in Tonga as well as throughout the region.

Fiji has welcomed the introduction of a second mobile phone service provider this month, Inkk Mobile. Until this month Vodafone Fiji has held a monopoly position. One of the main differences with the new service is that Inkk's billing service will be calculated on a per second basis rather than a 30 second basis, which will help reduce the cost of calls for Inkk users.

At the official launch, held at JJ's on the Park in Suva on 18th November 2007, the Minister for Commerce, Industry, Investment and Communications, Mr Taito Waradi, stated that it was good to see a second provider entering the marketplace for although Vodafone may have been offering a fair service, it was never good to see monopolostic situations.

The CEO of Inkk Mobile, Mr Paul O’Neile, when first receiving the approval to enter the mobile services arena, indicated that they were proud to have been invited to deliver a "truly unique and competitive mobile experience to both customers and a market that deserves the benefits of honest competition".