Pacific Harbor’s Pearl Resort is on track to open its new $88 million expansion project come August.

This new building complex will house 132 rooms, a new restaurant and a 300 seat conference venue.

Pearl General Manager Natalie Marletta says the need for more rooms in the area triggered the expansion.

“Pacific Harbour in itself is up and coming with new tour operators in the area and so we felt that there was a need to expand. We find guests from Suva coming down and locals. We do a lot of conferences as well both local and international so the critical mass volume in Pac Harbour is growing.”

According to the Tourism Minister Faiyaz Koya, any expansion or construction of hotels in the country is good news as it supports government’s vision of increased visitor arrivals.

“The Tourism industry is entirely private sector driven and that sector has really come forward with respect to additional rooms in and around the country with the new rooms that have been built. It’s great for the tourism industry.”

The construction has been undertaken by Pacific Building Solutions and 250 people are employed on site.

Upon completion, the new complex brings the number of rooms at the resort to 210.