West room inventory augurs well for Sports Tourism
The Fijian Drua and Chiefs clash at Churchill Park this weekend is a win-win situation for the Sugar City. Hundreds of businesses, vendors and transport operators and not to mention, sports tourism, would be capitalising on this one-day event.
From the woman selling juice for the parched spectators, the scaffolding company setting up to make more seats, the flow-on effect of this sporting event is sure to boost Fiji’s West side.
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association chief executive officer Fantasha Lockington, said sports tourism has huge opportunities for the country which has been discussed at length for many years.
“Where the Central Division has the sports facilities, they lack the room inventory required to cater to large international events and where the west has room inventory, they lack the modern sporting facilities that are needed for larger international events,” Mrs Lockington said.
“Our tourism development plans need to address the obvious gaps with a long term strategy with how we can capitalise on this obvious opportunity.”
She said whilst not every tourism businesses reopened since December 1, 2021, many had been consistently reopening and with each passing month since April.
“Together with the very positive marketing by the industry, we can see the impact of these through steadily increasing bookings and FHTA is always thrilled to learn when even more room inventory gets added to the current availability.
“It is therefore really exciting to see an event like the Fijian Drua vs Chiefs game being played in the west even within these limitations, that at the very least provides our local residents the opportunity to see a game of this calibre right here.
“We understand hotels and resorts from the Coral Coast to the Sun Coast are either already full or filling up fast with a mix of international and local guests, including media.
“This is the perfect time of the year for great weather and what better time to see an exciting match so close by, after which there are a vast number of exciting activities to also do, other than sipping cocktails watching another perfect sunset of course.”