The Fiji Tourism Exchange 2024 was held May 5-7 (local time) at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Denarau Island.
The event invites travel-related businesses and media to attend business meetings and seminars with local suppliers of hotels, transportation, activities, and other services. This year’s event, the first in Corona, was a large-scale event with over 90 exhibitors and more than 100 travel-related companies and media from all over the world, including Japan.
The first speaker at the media session was HON. VILIAME GAVOKA, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Mr. Kavoka prefaced his remarks by saying, “In 2023, Fiji welcomed a record 929,740 tourists,” explaining that most of them were from Australia and New Zealand, with a large increase from North America. He commented that almost 80% of these visitors were there for vacation purposes and that the economic impact of tourism was in excess of $3 billion Fiji dollars per year, which he said he was proud of and that Fiji would continue to be a promising destination.
He also noted that Fiji “announces new advancements in technology, services and experiences every year,” including the opening of the Crowne Plaza and Waya Island, the Westin Denarau, Vatu Talei, Radisson Blu Mirage Resort, Fiji Naisoso Island, Vatu Talei, Westin Denarau, Vatu Talei, Radisson Blu Mirage Resort, and Fiji Naisoso Island. The Westin Denarau, Vatu Talei, Radisson Blu Mirage Resort, Fiji Naisoso Island, Hilton Garden Inn, and Wyndham Island have also opened. Wyndham Garden Wailoaloa Beach and Rydges Wailoaloa will open soon.
In addition, Royal Davui, Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Outrigger, Yatule Resort & Spa, and Tokoriki Island Resort Fiji” are undergoing major renovations and are ready to welcome more tourists.
On the other hand, with regard to sustainability, which has gained importance in recent years, the company’s goal is to achieve economic growth while maintaining environmental and social values, and will focus on preserving the pristine natural environment and cultural uniqueness for future generations.
Mr. AKUILA BATIWETI, FIJI AIRWAYS CHIEF MARKETING & SALES OFFICER, then took the stage.
The company commented that under its “We Fly for Fiji” initiative, its three-year strategic plan sets goals related to “sustainable network growth for the airline, maximizing revenue, improving products and services, and continuing to promote the tourism industry and Fiji’s economy.
He noted that the company, a national airline, occupies an important position in the development of the nation, citing its coverage of “70% of all visitors to Fiji” as the reason for this. This “reflects its importance as a strategic national asset supporting the local tourism industry, which accounts for 45% of the gross domestic product,” he explained, adding that “every ticket” sold by the company “brings foreign currency into Fiji. He added that the company is “achieving a new record of carrying more than 2.1 million passengers in 2023,” a growth of 57% since 2022.
Overall network growth in 2023 compared to 2022 is about 47%, broken down as follows: 17% in North America, 276% in Asia, 21% in Australia, 64% in New Zealand, 421% in the Pacific Islands, and 23% in Japan. And overall growth in 2024 is already projected to be about 9.5% higher than in 2023.
International and regional flights, with “strong performance in Australia, New Zealand, and North America,” “new routes to Canberra, Australia, and Noumea, Caledonia,” “resumption of flights to Adelaide, Hong Kong, and Tokyo,” and “year-round service to Vancouver, Canada,” contributed to this result, Domestic flights totaled 26,586, a 40% increase from 2022.
As a result, the airline was awarded Best Airline, Best Airline Staff, and Best Airline Service in the Australia/Pacific region in the SKYTRAX 2023 Awards, as well as 15th in the Global Top 100 Airline Ranking, 16th in the Global Top Clean Airline Ranking, and 12th in the Top 20 Global Cabin Crew Ranking. Ranked 16th in the Global Top 100 Airlines, 12th in the Global Top 20 Cabin Crew Ranking, etc. The airline has also won the APEX 5 Star Major Airline Award for two consecutive years and the Gold Award for Best Seller/Commerce Campaign at the Hashtag Asia Awards.
On the other hand, he cited rising fuel prices, inflation in many areas, and competition from beach resorts such as Bali and Hawaii as challenges.
He cited cost reductions and productivity improvements, optimizing airfares in comparison to competitors, adding unique Fijian experiences to in-flight products and services, and strengthening network connections with other airlines as solutions to these challenges. While these measures “will have an immeasurable positive impact on our financial performance, the best long-term solution is to expand our network,” he said, adding that he would work to secure customers by aggressively expanding into untapped markets.
Regional strategies include new nonstop flights in North America, code-share flights, exploration of interline agreements, and sponsorship deals with well-known sports teams to strengthen the brand. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, the airline will “continue to be a major gateway from the South Pacific to the rest of the world, serving nine airports and providing consistent and seamless connections to the rest of the world,” including three new weekly flights to Canberra, the capital of Australia, and two new weekly flights to Nouméa, New Caledonia. The airline will “continue to be a major gateway to the world from the South Pacific region and provide consistent and seamless connections to other parts of the world through its nine airports.
In addition, as a new service, the Premier Lounge at Nadi Airport will offer Chef’s Table as a unique Fijian experience. Instead of the traditional buffet style, guests can enjoy four courses of Fijian cuisine using local seasonal ingredients in a private dining room, including appetizers, main course, and dessert. This service can be booked in advance via email and is offered for one lunch session and up to two dinner sessions.
Finally, TOURISM FIJI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BRENT HILL reviewed the state of Fiji tourism in 2023.
He explained that 929,740 tourists visited Fiji in 2023, a record number from Australia, as well as from New Zealand and North America, and from Vancouver, Toronto, and China.
The economic impact of tourism is $3.3 billion Fiji dollars, and overall hotel occupancy is 70-80%, which equates to about 14,000 rooms, he said. However, he said that the occupancy rate in the high class resort hotels is at an astoundingly high 80-90%, and that about 5,000 more rooms will be needed. He believes that with further room growth, the economic impact could grow to $4.3 billion Fiji dollars in the next four years.
To achieve this, he said, the Fiji brand needs to be promoted around the world, with promotions in Shanghai, Beijing, and New Zealand, international events such as rugby and surfing, and new tourism resources such as trekking, cycling, and other inland adventure experiences.
In addition, as part of their sustainability efforts, the company is conducting a campaign to clean up plastic waste that washes up on Fiji’s beaches and rivers, and many resorts are also introducing renewable energy, solar power, and transitioning to EV vehicles.
With many more hotels scheduled to open in Fiji, the goal is to have 966,000 visitors in 2024, a 4% increase, and an economic impact of $3.4 billion Fiji dollars. At this point, the company is exceeding its goals and is approaching one milestone of one million visitors. With the opening of new Fiji Airways routes and new hotels in the future, “we will certainly get there,” he concluded.
© Source travel watch
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