2022, A Gold Opportunity for Fiji Against Competing Tourist Destinations: Whitton
Rosie Holidays managing director, Tony Whitton, says they are wasting no time in trying to stay ahead of competing tourist destinations like Bali.
They are reinvigorating their marketing strategies to capitalise on this down time ahead of Bali and other Asian destinations’ likely tourism reopening next year.
´The owner of the country’s leading inbound tour and transport company and Ahura Resorts was speaking during the final day of the Fijian Tourism Expo at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau, Nadi.
Track new customers
“This year is a golden opportunity to track new customers and re-inspire tourists to return,” he said.
“What we can expect is this constant focus on everyday improvements and one of the things that we really have to work hard on is that in 2023, Fiji will have more competition,” said Mr Whitton.
“We will have countries like Bali reopened for business and countries like in Asia reopened for business.
“You will have some of our long haul markets of USA and Europe reopening.
“This year is a golden opportunity to be able to track new customers from Australia and New Zealand and to hopefully re-inspire them to be able to really come back again.
“Because generally this statistic is by 33 per cent of a visitor that comes from Australia, New Zealand will come back again so if we can get new visitors and have that repeat cycle.”
Rosie Holidays was focused on rolling out more booking apps where international visitors could have the ease of being able to book a sightseeing tour, be part of activities, be on a holiday or witness tourist-attraction areas.
Mr Whitton added that there was also a big focus on conservation.
Getting back to full operation
In addition, he said there was also focus on getting back workers on Malolo Island and Likuliku Lagoon Resort.
He confirmed that about 90 per cent of staff were back at work.
“We are still missing some of the long haul conference and incentive markets that we hope to slowly get back long haul markets of China and hopefully in 2023 some of those markets will start to resume again,” he said.
“We as Rosie Holidays and Malolo Island and Likuliku have found that a lot of our international visitors were really surprised at the standard and the upkeep of our resort and with staff that are even more energized and have this little spring in their step.
“I think the mere fact that they’ve been able to really come to feel, touch and experience and gain that double assurance that Fiji is open, I think that one of the things that we’re finding now is that our intakes, some of the hotels that we partner with, will actually have occupancies that are the same or even better than 2019 and what’s really evident is that the short haul markets our traditional short haul markets that are very important, which is Australia and New Zealand, found that Fiji is so easy to get to, that Fiji is great value as part of the Bula bubble packages, the airfare is very affordable, there’s great
frequencies.”
Outcome of Expo
Mr Whitton said this year’s Fijian Tourism Expo was, without any doubt, one of the most important engagements.
“We’ve had a twoyear gap and then
we’ve had perhaps one of the most tumultuous periods in our country’s history, particularly tourism,” he said.
“I think the success that we’re seeing now has really been a culmination of one year’s worth of working, planning of coordination of this amazing partnership between our national airline, Ministry of Health and national tourist office and with all the key stakeholders in tourism.
“Fiji is open for happiness.”
Westpac support-ready
Westpac Fiji CEO, Shane Smith said Westpac was optimistic about the future for tourism in Fiji and was proud to have been a major sponsor at 2022 Fiji Tourism Expo.
“We recognise the significance of this event to Fiji’s economy especially now when our tourism industry is getting back on its feet.
“We appreciate the work that Tourism Fiji is doing to bring more visitors to our shores and are proud to support that work through sponsorship of this important Expo,” said Mr Smith.
“We took the opportunity to showcase our payment gateway that integrates with e-commerce websites, corporate online and other relevant products to the tourism sector. We also used the platform to promote our sustainability program - Westpac Women and Girls education grant that offers a total of 30 grants to women and girls all over Fiji.”