Koya Launches Evaluation Fund
Fijian owned or operated events can now access financial assistance through the Events Evaluation and Funding Framework under Tourism Fiji.
The framework was launched by Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Koya during the 2017 Tourism Fiji Industry Day at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Natadola yesterday. High quality events, he said was a great opportunity to bring new visitors to Fiji and showcase what Fiji had to offer to other potential visitors’ via media international coverage.
Mr Koya added these events also provide an opportunity to grow seasonal visitation in off peak periods and it would be a key focus of Tourism Fiji’s event strategy. He said the aim of the new initiative was to provide a consistent and transparent approach to Tourism Fiji support and funding decisions for events.
The funding will be in categories under the framework which is the events development fund ( EDF) which is targeted for new start up event providing an opportunity to stimulate and encourage develop- ment of local events.
The other category is the marquee event fund (MEF) which is targeted at large scale local and international events.
“The EDF fund are for events that are Fijian owned and operated to assist Fiji event owners to achieve financial sustainability and these events are those that are getting established or in its early stages of development,” Mr Koya said. He said example of such events could be the Sabeto Horse Racing event, Uprising Music Festival and Grasshoppers Netball Festival.
Mr Koya said the MEF fund was more focused on securing and growing existing events as well new events for Fiji it could be either Fijian owned or international but the event must be held in Fiji. He then gave examples for events that could get funded under this catergory they are Ocean Swim Fiji, Fiji Triathlon and the upcoming Interhash in 2018.
“Both these funds will help develop our events market further where partnerships can also be strengthened between Government and the private sector,” Mr Koya said.