Issued by the Fiji Visitors Bureau
NEWS RELEASE December 8, 2006.
Fiji Forms Tourism Action Group Again
Fiji¹s tourism industry today reformed the Tourism Action Group to develop a marketing and public relations strategy to
restore traveller confidence
after this week¹s military takeover of Government.
TAG originally came together during the 2000 civilian coup when tourism was severely damaged after hostages were held
for 56 days.
Initiated by the Fiji Visitors Bureau, TAG membership comprises key industry leaders.
It will be chaired by previous TAG chairman, Damend Gounder.
Two committees have been formed.
One is to deal with international marketing, focussing on Fiji¹s major markets of New Zealand and Australia.
The other is to concentrate on domestic issues involving Government relationships, industry consultation, working with
foreign embassies over travel advisories.
The international committee includes Jo Tuamoto , director of marketing for the FVB, Bill Whiting, managing director of
Global Bedbank, Tony Whitton president of the Society of Fiji Travel Agents (SOFTA), Aaron McGrath, chair of marketing
of the Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association and a representative of Air Pacific.
The domestic committee is Dixon Seeto, president of the Fiji Island Hotel and Tourism association, and chief executive
of Air Pacific, John Campbell.
NZ director for FVB, Paresh Pant, said from Nadi today that TAG is waiting until the new interim Government is
established before announcing further plans.
However, advertising and public relations consultancies in both New Zealand and Australia are on standby to swing into
action as soon as TAG decides campaign timing.
Ends