Chinese partners learn Fijian tourism industry
Tourism Fiji, in partnership with Fiji Airways and its Industry partners, brought 28 Chinese travel trade partners to Fiji from 16-26 October on a Mega Familiarization (Famil) trip. This was to boost their knowledge on the various tourism products Fiji has on offer.
For most agents this was their first time to Fiji. One of those agents is Lu Yanye, who is the marketing director of a company called Qulv in China. She said she loved being surrounded by natural beauty and an abundance of fresh food and clean water.
“The people here are so happy and that’s what I love the most; saying ‘bula’ to them with a big smile! My favourite experience was the cooking lesson at the resort. Chinese people enjoy the delicious food,” Mrs Yanye said. Another agent, the sales manager of Dear Island company, Yan Meijuan said: “Fiji is blessed with crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, friendly people and authentic culture. “The best experience for me would be the snorkelling and diving options available as well as the fresh seafood.”
As Fiji’s fourth largest market for visitor arrivals, China is an important market for Fiji and one that has seen steady growth each year.
In 2018 Tourism Fiji opened an office in Shanghai to better promote Fiji as a holiday destination to Chinese travellers. Tourism Fiji Regional Manager of Greater China, Vincent Zheng, said: “We’re happy to get so many high-quality Chinese travel agents to experience the best of what Fiji has to offer. The travel trade is an extremely valuable channel for engaging with potential visitors, and a well-informed agent is better equipped to promote and sell Fiji.” Mr Zheng added that he knows this joint effort with our industry and Fiji Airways to showcase Fiji’s diversified experiences will drive more Chinese visitors to Fiji.