Time to relook at our tourism cost
Tourism destinations such as Bali in Indonesia, Rarotonga and Aitutaki in Cook Islands have their tourism properties gearing up and ready to open for business as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.
What are some of the things they are doing?
Slashing rates and not just accommodation rates, they are preparing to lower their cost of food and beverages, room service rates, and are preparing to offer freebies to entice tourists to come their way.
Tourism properties at home, here in Fiji, will have to put up a serious fight for those few travellers who will want to leave their countries for a vacation. While the entire country is getting up to speed with the new normal, our resorts and resort owners will also have to do their part. For example, a room service fee at a resort in the Western Division used to be from $10 to $15. The person who delivers that room service is paid $3.48 an hour. We need to seriously relook at this.
A bottle of Fiji Water cost more than $10 in our resorts while a dinner for family of four could easily cost them in excess of $100.
If we are to attract tourists, we need to look at the cost of vacationing here. The local rates have been a good start but in addition to that, a lot more will need to be done.
Competition will be stiff and if the Bula Bubble gets traction and we start welcoming tourists of Australia and New Zealand, travellers would expect value for money.
Fiji needs to get ready and our hoteliers need to be ready to slash prices of food, beverages and activities. They need to start work on packages to attract vacationing families and couples. It will be a tough market and those who are ready to take a dent in their profit margins will emerge as real winners.
Competition will be stiff and if the Bula Bubble gets traction and we start welcoming tourists of Australia and New Zealand, travellers would expect value for money.