Love Our Locals campaign exceeded its expectations

Tourism Fiji has applauded all Fijians who have been supporting tourism properties under the Love our Locals initiative, describing it as “exceeding expectations.”

The initiative has seen close to 160 hotels and some resorts open up their doors to the local market with prices slashed to suit each one’s pockets.

Tourism Fiji

Tourism Fiji chief executive officer Mathew Stoeckel said the campaign had received a lot of positive feedbacks even though the local market was nothing compared to overseas markets.

“Essentially we’ve been hearing from operators about bookings coming as a result of the Love ourLocals Campaign,” Mr Stoeckel said.

“Tourism Fiji’s focus remains on re-entering our international markets but our local campaign has exceeded expectations which was engaging our local markets to participate in the tourism industry in Fiji.

“We will be continuing Love our Locals Campaign through additional promotion and media partnership to build on what has already been created.

“We thank all Fijians for their support of the tourism industry and their participation in the love of our locals campaign,” he said Mr Stoeckel said the industry was in an unprecedented position where local travel were local customers.

“I think properties were thinking of if there was enough market to reopen operations and not so much about the size of it.

“It’s been very pleasing to see the local industry develop and to innovate new products and experiences including entertainment and some micro festivals at various properties across Fiji to attract local markets.”

He said for those properties that had opened up it was just adapting their experiences to the local market.

Government’s measures

As for the ‘travel bubble’ created by other countries and Fiji’s own Bula Bubble, Mr Stoeckel said Government’s measures on the containment of coronavirus and its success would be an attraction in itself.

“At Tourism Fiji, we are always optimistic with the Fiji Government’s containment of the virus and their health and safety measures that had been put in place to be attractive to other countries to form a bubble.

“Tourism Fiji, like everyone, continues to follow the media and the announcements and discussions around the bubble and we look forward to welcoming international visitors back to Fiji when the time is right and it’s safe to do so.”