Turtle Island
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Richard Evanson - Owner
Richard Evanson, owner of Turtle Island Resort, used to be a typical American entrepreneur on the fasttrack to success. He studied at Harvard Business School after earning an Engineering degree at the University of Washington. Upon graduating with honors in Business Administration, Evanson returned to the west coast and made his fortune in the newly-emerging world of cable television. By 1970, however, the then 36-year-old Evanson was burnt out. Wanting to put as much distance between himself and Western civilization as he could, he escaped to the Fiji Islands, taking only a generator, a refrigerator and a barge of beer with him. Two years later, Evanson purchased Nanuya Levu, a 500-acre barren, uninhabited island in Fiji's Yasawa archipelago and renamed it Turtle Island. [Read more]This accommodation provider has taken action to address one or more issues (whether environmental, social or cultural) which will contribute positively to the long term viability of the destination and hence their site displays a Caring for the destination rating.
Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:
Has been actively involved in helping the local people through provision of healthcare such as eye clinics, free sunglasses & cataract operations by volunteer specialists); part of buildin
Has been actively involved in helping the local people through provision of healthcare such as eye clinics, free sunglasses & cataract operations by volunteer specialists); part of buildin
Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative:
Richard Evanson has included in his vision for Turtle Island that it be a vital resource to its community. That community consists of 7 villages on 3 separate islands around Turtle Island, with 3,500 people in residence. As a rural community in a less developed country, there are many aspects of social equity which are not forthcoming for the residents of the area "Tikina". Until recently there has been very limited health care, no opportunity for secondary education, and very restricted job opportunities.Turtle Island has focused on capacity building through 3 specific initiatives to address some of the shortcomings of social justice, and to ensure that the people in the Tikina benefit significantly from Turtle Island's presence.
Richard Evanson has included in his vision for Turtle Island that it be a vital resource to its community. That community consists of 7 villages on 3 separate islands around Turtle Island, with 3,500 people in residence. As a rural community in a less developed country, there are many aspects of social equity which are not forthcoming for the residents of the area "Tikina". Until recently there has been very limited health care, no opportunity for secondary education, and very restricted job opportunities.Turtle Island has focused on capacity building through 3 specific initiatives to address some of the shortcomings of social justice, and to ensure that the people in the Tikina benefit significantly from Turtle Island's presence.
Meet Vika, your local connection in Fiji. ‘I had always wanted to join the tourism Industry, to make a difference for my country and let the whole world know about our beautiful destination'. We value every tourist that comes to our shores knowing that they have helped contribute to someone's wages and food on their dinner table. The beautiful smiling faces that greet you on the street, on the bus or anywhere in the country is what Fiji is best known for, a smile from a "Fijian" will always make your day.
