Tourist Arrivals to Fiji Continue to Increase

Tourist arrivals into the country for March increased by 29.4 per cent compared to March 2009 with figures released for quarter 1 showing international visitor arrivals hit the 126,942 mark.

Attorney General and Minister for Tourism, Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said although the strongest growth has been from Australia with 64.8 percent, New Zealand, the United States, the European Union, South Korea, India And Taiwan had also shown significant growth.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the arrivals for March were on par with the record breaking 2008 when Fiji’s largest ever intake of international visitor arrivals reached 582,000.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Manager Fiji, Ms Fane Vave at fvave@tourismfiji.com.fj

Fiji Debuts at Arabian Travel Market

Tourism Fiji made its debut at the Arabian Travel Market 2010 in Dubai from 04 -07 May.

The national tourist office is confident the new channels will open up within the lucrative regional market will play a key role in helping the national tourist office meet its ambitious tourism targets and further diversify market share beyond its traditional source markets.

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto said the Middle East market has been recognised as an emerging market for Fiji with strong potential and one that was extremely relevant within Tourism Fiji’s expansionary approach to look beyond the traditional source markets. “Hence Tourism Fiji’s decision to attend its very first Arabian Travel Mart,” he said.

Tourism Fiji Manager Fiji, Fane Vave who represented the national tourist office at the event described the response and reaction from the local travel trade at seeing Fiji in attendance as “overwhelming.”

“This is indeed exciting for Fiji as a country and a holiday destination,” she said.

“We were the only South Pacific Island country at the show. The biggest competitive advantage for Fiji is the fact entry visas are stamped upon arrival.

“The variety of airline options to connect to Fiji via Hong Kong and through Australia offer huge potential for us.”

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Manager Fiji, Ms Fane Vave at fvave@tourismfiji.com.fj

Green Me – Plant A Tree Me

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto and his team will don ‘suwai’ (gardening gear) and pick up shovels at the Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange 2010 as part of in an official tree planting ceremony to mark the newly launched ‘One Million Trees – Our GIFT to the Future Generation’ campaign.

Initiated by the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry the main thrust of the campaign is designed to ensure future generations continue to enjoy an economically viable and environmentally sound Fiji while addressing a whole host of other issues already having an effect on a national, regional and international basis.

These include climate change, deforestation, soil erosion, carbon emissions, flood mitigation and clean water supply.

Mr Tuamoto said while Fiji was only a small nation, the new tree planting campaign was a further demonstration of how the destination can set the pace when it comes to critical international action in an area already affecting the world on a daily basis.

“I would exhort all my Fijian tourism industry colleagues to get involved with this project and show the rest of the world that Fijians really can set the pace when it comes to environmental issues,” he said.

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

Tourism Fiji ‘Sunrise’ breakfast TV reaches 2.72 million Australians

An estimated 13 per cent of all Australians – some 2.72 million people - tuned in last week to see a live Channel Seven ‘Sunrise’ broadcast from Fiji.

An initiative between Tourism Fiji and its newest airline partner Jetstar, venues for the live broadcast included the Intercontinental Golf Resort & Spa at Natadola, Shangri-La’s The Fijian Resort, the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa, Plantation Island Resort and Musket Cove Island Resort.

All five hotelier partners’ properties and their various activities – from sports and kids clubs to culture and romantic venues – formed backdrops for a series of live Australian weather updates delivered by high profile presenter Grant Denyer.’

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji Australia’s Regional Director, Mr. Paresh Pant at ppant@tourismfijioz.com or Senior Marketing Officer, Mr. Thomas Valentine at tvalentine@tourismfiji.com.fj

Fiji Islands Backpacker Forum

Attorney General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum officially opened the Fiji Islands Backpacker Forum taking place on 30 April 2010 at the Nomads Skylodge Hotel Nadi.

The ‘Embracing unity to face the new budget traveller’ themed event was the first of its type to be held in six years and was seen an opportunity for the backpacker industry to establish and further develop good working relationships with Government, key stakeholders and partners. More than 100 participants representing the backpacker market attended the event.

Keynote speakers included Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto, Jeff Jarvis, Tourism Research Unit from Monash University, Australia; website expert Damien Gallagher, from Melbourne, and Michelle Cox, Managing Director, STA, Australia.

Presentations from the forum can be downloaded off www.fijime.com

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Marketing Officer, Ms Kesaia Marau at kmarau@tourismfiji.com.fj

Tourism Fiji to further target China/HK market in Hong Kong

Following the success of its attendance at the Guangzhou International Travel Fair Tourism in March, the national tourist office is offering its Fiji industry colleagues the opportunity to participate at one of the Asian regions other biggest annual consumer travel shows - ITE Hong Kong.

Running from 10-13 June ITE Hong Kong has grown in just five years to become one of North Asia’s most significant events with more than 30 per cent of its regional trade and corporate visitors coming from mainland China and other parts of Asia,

The event, and ITE MICE which runs concurrently, is among one of the few travel fairs in Asia offering delegates two full professional days meeting with their international trade and corporate counterparts.

The 2010 event is expected to attract huge numbers of exhibitors with more than 80 per cent of those attending emanating from outside of China.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Marketing Services Manager, Ms Adeline Lee at alee@tourismfiji.com.fj or Marketing Officer, Mr Kiniviliame Raicebe at kraicebe@tourismfiji.com.fj

Tourism Fiji to capitalise on building interest in ‘Land of the morning calm’

Timely given the 49 per cent increase in South Korean arrivals across quarter 1, Tourism Fiji will stage a major ‘Korea Road Show’ promotion in Seoul from 07-09 June.

The national tourist office is inviting its industry colleagues to join the event which is expected to draw large numbers of Korean travel agents, wholesalers and local media.

Sheraton & Westin Resorts Fiji, Sonaisali Island Resort and the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa are already confirmed for the event, venue for which is the Ibis Myeongdong in the South Korean capital.

The road show builds on current Tourism Fiji activity in South Korea which includes a series of strategic advertisements designed to refresh the ‘Fiji Me’ and increase visitor arrivals.

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

Next stop Fiji - Tourism Fiji Korean ad campaign targets train stations and buses

A further catalyst for improving figures from South Korea, commencing in April Tourism Fiji’s promotional banners have been appearing in several of Seoul’s busiest train stations with an estimated daily exposure to some 310,000 commuters.

Stage two of the campaign will see a series of high profile banner advertisements placed on buses operating several of the South Korean capital’s busiest commuter corridors.

Tourism Fiji has also harnessed the web to deliver the ‘Fiji Me’ message across 12 online portals. These include www.google.co.kr, www.nate.com, www.naver.com and the huge www.hanatour.com website which, with over 10 million impressions on a daily basis, is one of South Korea’s most visited travel sites.

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

Continental/United merger good news for Fiji

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto has described the news of the Continental Airlines as good news for Fiji’s visitor arrivals from the steadily rebuilding US market – and beyond.

Mr Tuamoto said the US, being the main passenger source for the merged airlines, would continue to be a key source market for Fiji in terms of revenue and yield.

"Key cities will be expanded beyond the traditional West Coast designated market areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco and reflect new hubs developed from the merger to include Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark, New Jersey and Washington Dulles International Airport," he said.

"It also means additional airline partners to undertake co-operative marketing and stretch our very limited marketing funds.

"United is strong in the Pacific whereas Continental is strong in Europe and Latin America so there will be an advantage in terms of reaching the international traveller in the market in terms of database marketing and frequent flyer programs."

US visitor arrivals to Fiji in March increased by 18.8 per cent to reach 4199, 665 more than the 3534 recorded for the same period in 2009.

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

Rare book detailing 19th century Fijian culture raises UKL37,000 for charity

Offering a very rare glimpse into traditional Fijian culture in the 19th century, a book documenting two British scientists’ travels in Fiji in 1881 has raised UKL37,000 (FJD110,000) at a charity auction in the UK.

The book, ‘A Trip to the Highlands of Viti Levu’ is a photo documentary of two brothers’ quest to find their long-lost brother in Fiji in 1881. Written by prestigious Royal Society of London member Gerard Ansdell, it consists of 44 remarkable photographic portraits of Fijians and was self-published in 1882.

The book was discovered in an Oxfam shop in Teignmouth, Devon, where it was donated by an anonymous well-wisher in 2009.

Going under the hammer at Bonhams Auctioneers in London this week, the book raised UKL37,000, 23,000 times more than the average selling price for a book in an Oxfam shop.

In Oxfam terms that is enough to buy 1,500 goats, feed 5,300 families or provide safe water for 41,000 people.

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto said he was delighted with the discovery of the book which provided a valuable insight into a Fijian way of life which has changed little over the centuries.

Mr Tuamoto said he was extremely pleased that the book had made such a valuable contribution to people in need all over the world.

An image from the book is available on the following link: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy/cgi/process_comp/photos/2010/04/fiji.jpg

Tourism Fiji ‘Media Tarakoro’ 25 April – 02 May 2010

Tourism Fiji’s international media visitation program plays a vital role in developing awareness and generating travel interest for Fiji in the destination’s key source markets.

Several of these events have been staged over the last few years with great results however these programs are heavily dependent on the good will and support of Tourism Fiji’s industry colleagues.

Without that support, events such as the 25 April – 02 May ‘Media Tarakoro’ involving six eminent journalists from Australia, New Zealand and the US, would simply not be able to take place.

Tourism Fiji is expecting strong results from this latest exercise and if feedback emanating from media attending this latest event is anything to go by, Fiji will be very top of mind in several of Australia and New Zealand’s top magazines as well as in the US west coast region - thanks to the presence of high profile travel writer Barbara Beckley who also joined the group. .

The Australian titles included Woman’s Day (circulation 409,521), House & Garden (circulation 100,306) and the very prestigious Audi magazine which is distributed to all new Audi owners with the Fiji feature story to be positioned alongside the Australian launch of Audi’s newest vehicle, the very long awaited A8, publicity for which is already building.

The New Zealand titles included New Zealand Woman’s Weekly (circulation 80,445) and M2 magazine (circulation 7220) which is distributed in New Zealand, Australia and SE Asia.

Locations visited on Viti Levu included Nadi, Denarau, Natadola, the Coral and Pacific Coasts and Suva, also the Mamanucas and Savusavu where the media were given the opportunity to sample first hand many of Fiji’s upmarket resorts and hotels while at the same time, sampling many cultural and soft adventure activities and visiting places of interest.

These include Tau Village to see salt making demonstrations and visits to ancestral caves, the Pure Fiji factory and spa in Suva, Zip lining, the Sigatoka River Safari and the Spices of Fiji/ Wainadoi Gardens on the Pacific Coast.

Fiji's positioning as the 'spa capital of the South Ppacific' was also well represented with each media group having the opportunity to sample some of the region's foremost facilities. These include the Namale Spa on Savusavu, Bebe Spa at the Outrigger on the Lagoon and Chi Spa at Shangri-La's The Fijian Resort.

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

2010 Fiji Dive Fiesta - 22-29 May

Further underlining Fiji’s diversity and the unique attributes the region offers the international SCUBA dive market, the Northern islands will host the 2010 Fiji Dive Fiesta from 22-28 May.

Sponsored by Tourism Fiji, Air Pacific and several of the destination’s key dive operators, the event is expected to attract large numbers of international dive specialists, tour consultants, wholesalers as well as several media.

Vanua Levu and the northern islands, including Taveuni, account for almost 30 per cent of all dedicated dive visits to Fiji while the Pacific Coast on Viti Levu attracts around 27 per cent.

However several other regions, and particularly Kadavu which sits on the Astrolabe reef, the world’s third largest, are also beginning to draw large numbers of divers keen to explore what has become known as the ‘soft coral capital of the world’.

Interest in the event is growing at a rapid pace with 17 dive wholesalers from USA, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China already signed up.

The trade day on 28 May is being coordinated by the FIHTA Dive committee which hopes to see in excess of 15 local suppliers in attendance.

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

NZ ‘Marry Me’ seminars

Capitalising on Fiji’s popularity as the most popular overseas destination for New Zealanders getting married, Tourism Fiji’s New Zealand regional office have staged a series ‘Marry Me’ seminars in Nelson, Palmerston North, Tauranga and Auckland.

More than 100 agents in total attended the seminars, the objective for which was to ensure Fiji's New Zealand trade partners are well equipped and fully understand the requirements, processes when getting married in Fiji as well as underlining the strides Fiji is making as the South Pacific’s premier wedding and honeymoon destination.

Backing up the seminars, a post-event familiarisation is planned from 22 – 27 May which is intended to allow participating agents the opportunity to experience firsthand the many products and services that Fiji now offers to the wedding and honeymoon market.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji Regional Marketing Officer,New Zealand, Ms Ragigia Dawai at Ragigia@bulafiji.co.nz

‘Romance Me’ Famil

Tourism Fiji, Air Pacific and wholesale partners have extended a proposal to more than 50 wedding specialists from Australia, the UK and US to visit Fiji as part of a ‘Romance Me’ familiarisation taking place 02-09 June.

The objective of the week-long famil is to create awareness of the products and services that Fiji has to offer the international weddings and honeymoon market.

The event will begin with a trade day scheduled to take place at Plantation Island Resort’s convention centre provides all industry partners with the opportunity to present their products to this specialised group of consultants.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji’s Marketing Officer, Ms Inise Mucunabitu at imucunabitu@tourismfiji.com.fj

Tourism Fiji launched Fijime.tv video-based website

In an effort to increase awareness, visitors and the length of a visitors stay in Fiji, Tourism Fiji and Marchese Communications Inc. in Los Angeles, Fiji's advertising agency of record, has launched this month a new video-based website: www.fijime.tv.

The site features five channels of themed TV shows each running three and one half minutes in-length, plus a 30 second "pre-roll commercial" promoting a wholesaler offer for the participating resort in each channel episode. The channels include: Romance & Honeymoon; Luxury, Golf & Spa; Adventure & Dive; Family—Ultimate Fiji; and, Culture & Eco-tourism.

Each show will run for 15 weeks, with new shows premiering beginning April 11, July 25th and November 7th. The new website will be marketed to an opt-in e-mail database of 60,000 and via social media on Facebook and Twitter, Cable TV, including CNN Headline News and The Weather Channel, rich media banner ads on select travel, lifestyle and news websites and on more than 20 popular video sites like You Tube and those that offer a Travel section.

For further information, please visit www.fijime.tv

Tourism Fiji Completes Canadian Roadshow

Tourism Fiji completed a successful three-city Canadian Roadshow earlier this month, making stops in Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver from 06-08 April. During its visit to each city, Tourism Fiji focused on providing more than 60 Matai agents and Canadian travel professionals with a destination update/overview about the exotic country and how to sell Fiji.

The Tourism Fiji team presented a product resort update, discussed the niche markets for the Pacific island nation’s honeymoon, dive, and adventure markets and gave an overview to guests about Tourism Fiji’s Matai Specialist program.

The training seminars also included partner presentations by some of Fiji’s top resort representatives, a tabletop tradeshow, a lavish sit-down buffet dinner and live entertainment and Dance by the Bula boys.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji Regional Marketing Officer, The Americas, Ms Sera Cawanibuka at sera@tourismfijius.com

First Ever Canadian Media Luncheon Hosted by Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific in Vancouver, BC

Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific has hosted its first ever “Fiji Me” Canadian media luncheon in Vancouver’s Coast Coal Harbour Hotel.

Both travel trade and lifestyle journalists, including members of the Travel Media Association of Canada, the BC Association of Travel Writers, Canada’s own Fiji Times Canada, Talk Travel TV Radio Magazine and Canadian Traveller Magazine were all on hand to view an informative destinational presentation given by Tourism Fiji regional director The Americas, Ili Matatolu.

Fiji is targeting 15,000 Canadian visitor arrivals in calendar year 2010.

For further information, please contact Tourism Fiji Public Relations Consultant, The Americas, Ms Susan Bejeckian at sbejeckian@gmail.com

Vuidreketi Takes on Top SPTO Role

Mr Vuidreketi joins SPTO following a term as Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to the US.

Announcing the appointment SPTO board chairman Peter Vincent said Mr Vuidreketi’s wealth of tourism knowledge will prove useful in building the profile of the South Pacific in the region’s major tourism markets.

“”His skills and vast experience in private sector development will assist the organisation in creating partnerships with the private sector to develop the tourism resources of the region,” he said.

As SPTO chief executive he will work closely with our member countries and the private sector in strengthening and raising the profile of the Pacific to international markets.”

The chief executive role is in fact Mr Vuidreketi’s second appointment with the organization which he first joined in 1997 as the commercial manager and assistant to the chief executive.

Mr Vuidreketi replaces former chief executive, Mr Tony Everitt who recently returned to New Zealand.

For further information, please contact hpoulivaati@spto.org

Happy Birthday Vatulele

Vatulele Island Resort has passed a major milestone, celebrating its 20th birthday on 10 May.

Local villagers joined in the celebration with pride of place at the dinner given to the nine staff who have been employed at Vatulele since day one.

For further information, please visit www.vatulele.com

InterContinental Ccores Top 2010 Conde Nast Traveller Accolade

The new InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa at Natadola has been included in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler ‘Hot List’, one of only three South Pacific properties to make the cut in the definitive list of the world’s best new hotels and resorts. News of the prestigious inclusion coincides with confirmation that the resort’s new ‘Club InterContinental’ will begin taking bookings from 01 June.

Offering sweeping views of Natadola Bay and surrounded by a private entertainment pavilion including an infinity pool, lounge area and al fresco dining, ‘Club InterContinental’ boasts 55 hilltop suites.

While all suites feature luxurious Cleopatra baths, several also offer private plunge pools.

General Manager Neil Houghton said to have made the list was a great achievement for the resort.

“With the addition of ‘Club InterContinental’, we are certain the resort’s reputation as a luxurious South Pacific retreat will be elevated even further,” he said.

For further information, please visit www.intercontinental.com

Lomani Island Resort expands accommodation base

Lomani has opened five new beach front bures.

The spacious 65 square metre air conditioned bures built literally a few steps from the water’s edge, come complete with a king size bed, private sundecks, open courtyard style bathrooms, flat screen TV’s, DVD players and ipod docks.

For further information, visit www.lomaniisland.com

Tokoriki Island Resort opens new Sunset Pool Villas

Tokoriki Island Resort has opened eight new Sunset Pool Villas each of which feature a private plunge pool and cabana along with a separate living area.

For further information, visit www.tokoriki.com

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