Strong Start To Fiji’s Tourism Recovery

NEWS RELEASE
Issued by Fiji Visitors Bureau
January 8, 2007

Strong Start To Fiji’s Tourism Recovery

A half million dollar New Zealand marketing campaign to restore Fiji tourism after a military coup in the Pacific islands nation is off to a strong start, according to the Fiji Visitors Bureau.

A week ago Fiji’s international airline, Air Pacific, announced tax included return airfares from Auckland to Nadi of $499.

Since then the phones have been running hot, according to the FVB’s New Zealand regional director, Sala Toganivalu,

Air Pacific’s low fare remains on sale until January 30, with travel from January 23 to March 31.

Air New Zealand is also offering similar low fares.

While the airline won’t specify booking numbers, the response has been well above expectations.

Ms Toganivalu says most Fiji resorts and hotels have introduced special holiday packages discounted by up to 40 per cent.

The new price-off strategy had been “extremely successful” in reversing the decline in bookings and cancellations after the military take over of the Government on December 5.

Despite the coup, many of Fiji’s major resorts have reported strong occupancies over the holiday break, normal for this time of the year.

Ms Toganivalu said this was encouraging because these bookings were made before the coup and the introduction of the cheap deals.

“Our research shows that after the coup New Zealanders were waiting for the cheap deals to be announced, knowing that for tourism it is business as usual,” she said.

“With New Zealand being our second largest market after Australia, it’s reassuring that our popularity as a holiday destination has not been damaged by the politics of the coup.

Meanwhile, tourism operators in Fiji are delighted that the military had overturned a previous government decision to increase VAT from 12.5 percent to 15 percent.

“This removed another potential cost barrier to Fiji travel,” she said. 8 January 2007

ENDS

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