'VITAL' EARNING FROM TOURISM CONTRIBUTE FJD900 MILLION TO ECONOMY

Underpinning the vital impact Fiji’s tourism sector has for the country, foreign exchange earnings emanating from international visitation now contribute an estimated FJD900 million to the local economy.

Speaking from Nadi, Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto said the result represented a massive return on investment for the Fiji government which has again pledged FJD23.5 million to assist the national tourist office in promoting Fiji to a global audience in fiscal year 2011-2012.

Mr Tuamoto’s comments follow the release of preliminary visitor arrival figures by Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday which indicate some 620,000 international visitors travelled to Fiji last year.

Echoing the minister’s comments, Mr. Tuamoto said this was indeed a definite milestone achievement for the sector and proves that the national tourist office’s overseas marketing strategies are hitting the mark.

Mr. Tuamoto paid particular tribute to his Fiji tourism industry colleagues all of which he said had played a significant role in helping Tourism Fiji achieve its objectives on the international stage in recent months.

“Having surpassed our initial 2010 targets, we now very much need to consolidate our efforts internationally in order to encourage even more international travellers to visit our islands and at the same time maximize Fiji's return on investment in this key national industry sector.

“This will be the case in our traditional source markets and also key emerging markets, such as China and India, where our marketing efforts have borne fruit throughout 2010 as evidenced by the exponential growth in visitor arrivals from both countries.”

Tourism now represents some 25 per cent of the country’s total GDP and is responsible for employing some 45,000 full time equivalent jobs of the total Fijian workforce.

For further information, please contact the Tourism Fiji CEO’s office at aledua@tourismfiji.com.fj

AG TAKES THE HELM ON INDIA TOURISM MISSION

Emphasising the significant role the Fiji government plays in helping the tourism sector achieve its objectives in key emerging markets, Attorney General and Minister for Tourism, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has personally headed a key five-day tourism mission visiting India this month.

The Minister was joined by senior Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific management and several industry principals on the mission visiting Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai between 31 January and 04 February.

The 2011 mission builds on the tourism industry’s inaugural visit to India in January last year, again personally led by the Minister.
The main thrust of the program as in 2010 is to educate several hundred Indian travel consultants in all four cities on the potential Fiji offers as a new and alternative destination for their clients.

Citing Fiji Bureau of Statistics’ visitor arrival figures, the Minister said the Indian market had shown good growth in 2010.

“Figures for the period January-September show visitor arrivals from India reached 2187, a more than 28 per cent growth over the 1704 achieved for the same period in 2009,” the Minister said.

“This is testament to the positive inroads our marketing efforts have already had in this key emerging source market.

“Furthermore it demonstrates the ever-building return on investment the tourism industry is beginning to accrue as a direct result of its concerted efforts in encouraging more Indian visitors to travel to our islands.”

The tourism mission got off to a good start in Chennai with close to 60 agents attending one of the several planned workshops.

Presentations included overviews on Fiji’s strong appeal for the local wedding and honeymoon market as well as its ability to handle large meetings, incentive and conference groups.

The mission also used the opportunity to showcase the potential Fiji offers to the huge Indian film industry as a fresh new source of exciting and exotic movie locations.

This second annual Indian workshop forms part of the overall strategic direction taken by Tourism Fiji to spread its portfolio of visitor generating regions to include India and also China.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Marketing Services Manager, Ms Adeline Lee Erasito at alee@tourismfiji.com.fj

TOURISM FIJI TO MAINTAINS AUSTRALIAN/NZ REGIONAL OFFICE

Tourism Fiji’s newly appointed Chairman Dave Pflieger and CEO Josefa Tuamoto today noted that contrary to a New Zealand trade report on Monday, Fiji's national tourist office had no intention of closing or consolidating any of its various offices.

Speaking from the national tourist head office in Nadi, Mr Pflieger noted that "there are absolutely no plans to close or consolidate any of Tourism Fiji's offices.”

He went on to add that he expected Mr Tuamoto and his team "will stay focused on the key markets of Australia and New Zealand because those two countries are Fiji’s first and second most important sources for visitors."

For further information, please contact the Tourism Fiji CEO’s office at aledua@tourismfiji.com.fjj

MINISTRY FOR TOURISM ANNOUNCES NEW TOURISM FIJI BOARD MEMBERS

Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has appointed a new Tourism Fiji board to be led by Air Pacific CEO, Mr Dave Pflieger as chairman.

The new board includes the following:

• Ms Elizabeth Powell – Permanent Secretary Tourism
• Ms Josephine Smith – Company Director, Musket Cove Island Resort
• Mr Lawrence Tikaram – Marketing Manager, Coca Cola Amatil Fiji Ltd
• Mr Shane Cunning – General Manager, The Sheraton Resorts

For further information, please contact the Tourism Fiji CEO’s office at aledua@tourismfiji.com.fj

TOURISM FIJI AUSTRALIA HITS THE ROAD WITH FLIGHT CENTRES

Again partnering with the huge Flight Centres travel agency group in what represents one of its biggest trade marketing events of the year, the Tourism Fiji Australia team will participate in six key road show events taking place across February.

Venues for the 2011 events include Townsville and Cairns in Far North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast in SE Queensland, Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne.

More than 49,000 travel agents attended the 2010 road show series.

For more information please contact Tourism Fiji Australia Regional Marketing Officer Ms Vivienne Valentine at viv@tourismfijioz.com

TOURISM FIJI ANNOUNCES FOUR CITY REGIONAL ROAD SHOW FOR FEBRUARY

Tourism Fiji staged a major four city road show in both north and south islands in early February as the destination looks to further build on solid business gains achieved from the New Zealand market in 2010.

The national tourist office’s regional team visited Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga and Auckland between 07-10 February accompanied by 11 of its Fiji-based industry colleagues.

Tourism Fiji Regional Director New Zealand, Sala Toganivalu said the timing of the road shows was perfect given Fiji’s current very high profile with both New Zealand consumers and the local travel industry.

That profile, she said, was about to receive a further major boost when a further round of the very well received ‘Lucky Me – Fiji Me’ TV advertising goes to air.

For more information contact Tourism Fiji Regional Marketing Officer Ms Ragigia Dawai at ragigia@tourismfijinz.com

TOURISM FIJI TO HOST SENIOR INDIAN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE

Tourism Fiji in cooperation with Air Pacific will host a nine member media team from India from the 15 – 19 February 2011. The team consisting of writers from Lonely Planet Magazine, Travel Biz Monitor, The Hindu and several freelancers will visit Viti Levu and the Mamanucas while in the country.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Marketing Services Manager, Ms Adeline Erasito at alee@tourismfiji.com.fj

TOURISM FIJI AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES DEDICATED FACEBOOK PAGE

Tourism Fiji Australia team has now launched its own dedicated facebook page and is inviting input from its Fiji colleagues.

Join us on www.facebook.com/tourismfijiaustralia

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji Regional Marketing Officer, Ms Vivienne Valentine at viv@tourismfijioz.com

TOURISM PLANS FOR RWC 2011

With just months to go before the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand, Tourism Fiji has announced its plans to put together a strategy that will international rugby fans travelling to the event an opportunity to visit Fiji before and after the tournament.

Tourism Fiji CEO, Josefa Tuamoto said the national tourist office was already working with key wholesalers in the UK and Europe to promote Fiji as the perfect pre and post Rugby World Cup destination and initial interest from all involved looks very promising.

For the past few tournaments including the Northern Hemisphere tour last year, the Flying Fijians were wearing jerseys with www.fijime.com printed on it

Advertisements are not normally allowed on world cup jerseys but he stressed they will pursue other options with FRU to see how they can maximize this huge opportunity.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Senior Marketing Officer, Mr Thomas Valentine at tvalentine@tourismfiji.com.fj

TOURISM FIJI AUSTRALIA TO STAGE MARCH WEDDING SEMINAR SERIES

Building on the success achieved with a similar exercise in 2010, Tourism Fiji will again conduct a series of wedding specific industry training workshops in Australia in March. The workshops are scheduled for Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide from 26 – 31 March.

The national tourist office intends following up the seminars with an agent famil in April.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Regional Marketing Officer, Ms Luisa Finiasi at lfiniasi@tourismfijioz.com or Marketing Officer, Ms Inise Mucunabitu at imucunabitu@tourismfiji.com.fj

FIJI TENNIS INVITATION CLASSIC 2010

Top tennis players from Europe and Asia are expected to converge on Fiji later this month when the second annual Fiji Tennis Invitation Classic takes place at the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club.

Scheduled from 21-25 February the event this year will attract several WTA players from the USA, Canada, China, Slovakia, India, The Philippines and South Korea.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Senior Marketing Officer, Ms Sera Cawanibuka at sera@tourismfijius.com

NINTH EDITION OF MOON FIJI

First published in 1985, international travel guide expert Avalon Travel Publishing has launched the ninth edition of Moon Fiji, the original travel guide to the Fiji archipelago.

The new book comprises nine travel chapters offering specific advice on sightseeing, lodging, food, transport, sports and recreation and facilities throughout Fiji plus a 24-page travel planner offering suggested itineraries plus relevant contact information.

For further information, please visit http://www.southpacific.org/fiji.html

First published in 1985, international travel guide expert Avalon Travel Publishing has launched the ninth edition of Moon Fiji, the original travel guide to the Fiji archipelago.

SHANGRI-LA CELEBRATES WITH SIGATOKA SPECIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS

World Wetlands Day at Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa was a very special day with a visit by 16 students from the Sigatoka Special School. The students were met in the lobby by the resort’s General Manager, Michael Monks and other members of the management team.

The students were invited to spend half a day at the resort to celebrate World Wetlands Day which was marked globally on Wednesday. The students’ visit was planned to coincide with Earth Day Thursday activities at the resort. The children were treated to a tour of the resort and spent time on Earth Day Thursday activities that included tie dyeing t-shirts, face painting, potting mangrove seedlings and a tour of Shangri-La’s Marine Education Centre.


For further information, please contact Communications Manager, Ms Lata Yaqona at lata lata.yaqona@shangri-lal.com

INTRODUCING FIJI'S NEWEST LUXURY RESORT TADRAI ISLAND RESORT, FIJI

Construction has commenced on what when finished will represent one of Fiji’s foremost five star accommodation offering, Tadrai Island Resort in the Mamanuca Islands.

Located on the northern side of Mana Island, the new resort has been designed by renowned Resort Architectural firm TropicX Design Studio.

When complete in September, the new resort will feature five luxury villas all with outdoor plunge pools and private decks and direct access to Selena Beach, one of four beaches forming part of the development.

Tadrai Island resort will also feature a restaurant, bar and fresh water pool will complete Selena Cove.

Managing Director, Mr Aaron McGrath said the resort would be couples, honeymooners or those wanting to escape to their own private paradise.

Tadrai Island Resort is now taking reservations for travel from 01 September which can be booked via www.tadrai.com or any travel agent.

Unsurpassed luxury in the Mamanuca Islands.

For more information contact Sales & Marketing Manager Ms Karyn Blenkiron at sales@tadrail.com

TOBERUA LAUNCHES NEW SPA AND GYM

Toberua Island Resort has opened a new spa and gym. The stunning spa has been relocated to the beachfront and now boasts two separate treatment rooms and a dedicated manicure and pedicure room with an extensive range of massages and beauty treatments available.

For more information, please contact Carla Jenkins from World Resort of Distinction on sales@wrd.com.au.

INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES FOR FIJI RESORTS

Strong international recognition and underlining Fiji’s ongoing ability to deliver a superior first class product, Likuliku Lagoon Resort has been named in the top 10 ‘Best Luxury Hotels in South Pacific’ in the ninth annual Trip Advisor ‘Travellers Choice Awards’ .

Likuliku was in fact the only Fiji luxury resort/hotel in the list.

The ‘Travelers Choice Awards’ also recognized Nanuya Island Resort and Nakia Resort and Dive have both been recognised in the 2011 ratings.

The Yasawa Islands-based Nanuya Island Resort was described as ‘ paradise' while the Garden Island of Taveuni's Nakia was listed as being ‘ eco-friendly and amazing'.

Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said the fact that three of the destination’s resorts were selected for top international recognition was great news for the local tourism industry.


The 2011 ‘Travelers Choice Awards’ this year recognized 676 establishments across the globe with winners’ awards based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions listed on the www.tripadvisor.com website.

Properties received awards in the following categories:

Best Bargains, Best Luxury, Best for Romance, Best B&Bs and Inns, Best Relaxation and Spa, Trendiest, Best All-Inclusive, Best US Hotels and Best International Hotels.

For more information visit www.tripadvisor.com

LAUCALA ISLAND SPA TREATMENT EARNS TOP INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Laucala Island’s ‘Bobo’ massage treatment has been named best in the world by the influential US-based Islands magazine.

The exclusive resort beat off strong opposition from the Maldives, Bali, Greece, Hawaii, Iceland, Puerto Rico, St Lucia and Singapore to take out the accolade.

For further information, please visit www.laucala.com

COMMODORE VILLA'S NEWEST ADDITION TO UPRISING BEACH RESORT ON FIJI ADVENTURE CAPITAL: PACIFIC COAST

Uprising Beach Resort at Pacific Harbour has opened its 12 new ‘Commodore’s Villas’.

Located right on the beach each of the new villas comes complete with state of the art in room entertainment systems, air conditioning, separate bedroom and living areas, bath tubs and outdoor open air landscaped showers, spacious and wide verandas with views over looking Beqa Lagoon, WIFI internet, coffee & tea facilities as well as mini bars.

For further information, please contact the resort at enquiries@uprisingbeachresort.com

WRD APPOINTS NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER IN NORTH AMERICA

World Resorts of Distinction (WRD) has appointed Claire Abot as its Business Development Manager for North America.

In her new role Ms Abot will represent both Sonaisali Island Resort and the new Tadrai Island Resort in the North American market. For more information please contact northamerica@wrd.com.au

SENIKAI LAUNCHES NEW LOOK WEBSITE

Fiji’s famous Senikai Spas, which can now be enjoyed in 13 locations across the Fiji islands - including on board Blue Lagoon Cruises and Captain Cook Cruises – has launched a new website.

The new website lists all Senikai Spa locations, bridal and romance packages, the recently introduced ‘Kids Spa’ concept, the Senikai ‘Academy’ and full information on its locally produced ‘Essence of Viti’ skin and body care range.

The new website is located at www.fijisenikaispas.com

LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD

Accor Hotels has announced the appointment of its first local GM, Mr Jack Work who has taken over the managerial reins at the Mercure Hotel Nadi.

Mr Work joined the Accor Group in 2005 as part of the managerial team appointed to open the Sofitel Resort and Spa in Denarau. He held several senior positions within the Accor Hotel group before being appointed to the role of Executive Assistant Manager at the Novotel Nadi in 08 March 2010.

For further information please contact Ms Lani Naulumatua at lani@novotelnadi.com.fj

MUSKET COVE ISLANDS RESORT & MARINA - FEBRUARY RENOVATION

Musket Cove Island Resort and Marina has announced it will undergo renovations from the 22 February to 17 March 2011.

The renovations will include an upgrade for Dick’s Place Bar & Bistro and a soft refurbishment in the garden bures and village.

The resort’s Trader Supermarket, Coffee Cove Café and the Ratu Nemani Island Bar, Marine and administration facilities for island residents will remain open throughout the renovation.

For further information, please contact Sales & Marketing Manager, Ms Kini Saukuru at sales@musketcovefiji.com

COOKING UP A STORM - NADI BAY HOTEL OPENS 'ANTOINETTE'S'

Nadi Bay Resort has unveiled its new fine dining venue – ‘Anntoinette’s’.

The motivation for the opening of the restaurant follows the success of the hotel’s inspirational cookbook ‘Under the Mango Tree’ written by the resort’s co-owner Anntoinette Fifer.

The publication went on to earn world-wide recognition in 2007 when it was short-listed by the prestigious Gourmand International as one of the year’s best foreign cookbooks and the only title selected from the South Pacific region.

Experienced head chef John Petueli is the creative force behind a menu he describes as “the epitome of a European fine dining experience – at a very non-European price.”

With an intimate seating capacity for just 40 people and already proving popular, the resort suggests diners make sure they book ahead to make a reservation, telephone (679) 6723599.

For further information, please contact the Managing Director, Mr. Errol Fifer at accounts@nadibay.com.fj

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