Gold medal win markets our nation>
This is Fiji; we do everything differently and create history says Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Siddiq Koya. The Fiji Sun team approached Mr Koya in his response to the tourism sector after the Rugby 7s team won its first Rio Olympic Gold medal. Mr Koya said it was a great opportunity to show the world that “our biggest asset is our people anywhere we go”. “We may be a small country but we have proven we can make history and make ourselves known in the world. “Now the world will look at the win and say I want to go to this wonderful place, too,” Mr Koya said.
On Friday, Google on Twitter said: “Fiji is the #1 trending search in the world as their rugby team wins the country’s first medal.” He said breaking a search engine record was a huge. “Just because of our boys, we are known in the world more than just a small dot in the map. “This was a great opportunity for the tourism industry as well as it gives a big marketing image itself. “The fact that it was the Rio Olympics 2016 win, it is huge for us as the ministry and worldwide viewership,” he said. He said that our boys’ hard work made Fiji gain more respect in the world. “The game itself earned us respect but even after the game, the respect that was given to the dignitaries that were presenting the medals and the song that was sung was just phenomenal. “The spirit of Fiji on Friday was one of the best sights as people enjoyed, sang and danced in every corner of our country.” He said in terms of marketing, it was beyond belief for Fiji. “We will have an increase in number of visitors to Fiji and because of that, we will rise and shine,” Mr Koya said. He said we are known and we are recognised in the world to be the number one rugby team in the world. “A big vinaka vakalevu to Ben Ryan and the boys who worked hard to prove everyone how we Fijians work and the supporters here who never stopped cheering for our best team,” Mr Koya said. Edited by Maraia Vula