Stakeholders in the tourism industry are calling on the interim government to hold consultations on its plans to increase lease rental income from native land utilised for tourism purposes.

Village News has spoken to a number of hotel and resort owners around the country who say they are not aware how the proposed changes will be brought about.

Hoteliers who have requested not to be named at this stage say they need to see the details of the changes to be brought about as they believe that landowners in the tourism sector are enjoying higher payments than what would be stated in amendments.

President of the Fiji Hoteliers Association Dixon Seeto when contacted by Village news said he cannot comment on the matter as yet.

The interim government is now actively taking steps to change the formula being used to set the value of native land which is expected to result in lease rentals increasing significantly.

Village News has established that following the valuation of native land on market basis instead of the Unimproved Capital Valuation, the lease rentals and premiums will increase significantly for native land used for tourism, commercial, industrial and residential purposes.