Happy hour is a popular feature of holidays. Usually it’s a thought-empty, do-little occupation. Tourism Fiji is asking visitors to put a little more thought into it. Havas and Tourism Fiji have launched the world’s first Happy Hour for the Environment, Loloma Hour, inviting travellers to swap cocktails for conservation.
The concept redefines ‘happy hour’ by giving visitors the chance to turn a portion of their holiday time into meaningful environmental and cultural action. Whether that is through planting coral, restoring mangroves, or engaging in cultural traditions, Loloma Hour makes it easy for travellers to leave a positive legacy in Fiji – all in just an hour.
The launch positions Fiji as a proactive leader in sustainable tourism as consumer demand for sustainable tourism grows, with 75% of global travellers expressing a desire to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months.
The program was inspired by the Fijian value of ‘Loloma’, meaning to act with generosity, driven by love, a value deeply rooted in Fijians’ way of life and care for the environment and culture. Loloma Hour’s curated activities cover wildlife, community, coastline and reef, appealing to a broad range of travellers including families, young couples, empty nesters, and solo travellers who want a meaningful way to meet people while travelling.
The initiative has been designed to maximise engagement and uptake by making sustainable action simple, accessible, and fun. Tourism Fiji will measure the tangible impact through hours contributed to sustainability initiatives, with a launch target of over 5,000 Loloma hours in year one.
Tourism Fiji chief marketing officer, Srishti Narayan, commented, “Fijians know genuine, long-lasting happiness is found in what you can do for others. It comes from what you can give back, not from what you get. Loloma Hour shows it only takes a small amount of time to make a big difference.
“Over time, the potential multiplies. The more people who take part, the more powerful the ripple effect – both environmentally and culturally. But beyond the numbers, it’s about the quality of the experience. Loloma Hour offers travellers a way to connect more deeply with Fiji, to be part of something purposeful, and to leave with a story that goes beyond the typical souvenir.”
Visitors who want to do their part and learn at the same time can join activities such as guided nature walks, culture talks, Fijian language classes, mangrove and coral planting, giant clam cleaning, and fish house building — all made available across partner hotels and resorts, tourism operators and partners throughout Fiji (20 operators and 40 activities so far).
Havas Executive creative director, Sebastian Vizor, added, “Sustainable travel doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Loloma Hour makes it simple – an easy, accessible way for visitors to give back to the beauty and generosity Fiji shares with them.
“By tying the simple ask for at least 60 sustainability-focused minutes of a visitor’s holiday time to the happiness created by making a meaningful environmental or cultural impact, the campaign flips the script on traditional tourist offerings, giving ‘happy hour’ an entirely new, more significant meaning.”
Launching April 8, 2025, Loloma Hour will partner with the BBC to reach eco-conscious travellers across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA with content that will highlight Fiji’s sustainability efforts on indigenous species conservation, cultural preservation, coral reef rehabilitation, and coastline protection. These articles will feature interviews with marine biologists and cultural hosts, showing how visitors can engage with Fiji’s natural and cultural heritage while supporting sustainability efforts.
The media partnership entices with captivating visuals and emotionally charged storytelling across social media, creating experiences that transport audiences straight to Fiji and leaving people dreaming of Fiji long after they’ve seen it.
Influencer, surfer and environmental activist, Pacha Light, who participated in Loloma Hour activities including ‘Litter for Latte’, coral planting, Fijian Crested Iguana conservation and ‘Culture Hour’ in the pre-launch phase, commented, “Our experience of Loloma Hour on this trip opened our eyes and hearts – learning about the joys of local food, local energy and Fijian culture interwoven with nature based solutions. We are all walking this path toward a truly sustainable future at a different pace, from varying starting points and with different styles, knowledge and experience – but sharing the same intention.
“Visitors find their happiness when they feel a connection, when they know they can make a positive difference, then they are encouraged to ask questions and bring new awareness back with them to their homes. Finding resorts who actively encourage this process was so empowering to us.”
To learn how to participate and find out more about Loloma Hour, visit https://www.fiji.travel/loloma-hour
Credits:
Client: Tourism Fiji
Creative: Havas Host
Media: Havas Media Network
Activation: Havas Play
Production: Creative 7 & Havas Host
