Fiji has passed a decree regulating surfing areas and wiping out existing business licenses to run surfing operations in the industry.
A media release from Fiji's Attorney General says the Government wants to encourage and promote Fiji surfing and liberalise access to any surfing area by any person for the purposes of tourism and recreation.
The regulation was approved by cabinet last week and gazetted, and takes affect from tomorrow and vests any interest in surfing areas directly with the Director of Lands.
The decree said previously a number of surfing areas in Fiji were exclusively licensed to some hotel operators which deprived others from accessing and using these surfing areas.
It also said the surfing industry is a global USD$10 billion dollar business and the decree allows Fijians to engage more profitably in the surfing industry as surf-tour operators and surfing-specialised accomodation.
