Get realistic, Fiji tourism forum told

August 14, 2009 02:20:33 PM

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Fiji’s annual Tourism Forum is underway at the newly-opened Intercontinental Resort and Spa in Natadola with Minister for Tourism, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum warning the country’s tourism industry it will have to be very realistic to be able to compete on the international market.

With Reserve Bank of Fiji governor Sada Reddy telling Forum participants to expect a “quite substantial” decline of 20 percent in tourism earnings for 2009, Sayed-Khaiyum said the industry could no longer afford to pull in different directions.

In an opening address echoed in later presentations at the Intercontinental Resort in Natadola, Sayed-Khaiyum made it clear the industry would be held accountable for the way it spent its marketing budget - doubled by government to $23.5 million in the 2009 Budget, Tourism Fiji’s biggest ever.

He said government would like to put in place a package in partnership with the industry to ensure a clear work plan.

“How will you partner with government to ensure that you realise the full potential of the monies that are being invested within the industry,” Sayed-Khaiyum said.

The Forum has heard the clear message that Fiji’s tourism industry needs to go up another level as competition intensifies.

Narend Kumar, executive manager for Qantaslink said some of the most developed economies were now devoting their attention to tourism and “its potential as a way to diversify the economy”.

As an example, Sayed-Khaiyum said Thailand was offering five nights accommodation for AUD$200 to get the tourism numbers back.

“I’m not saying Fiji should do that but that’s what we’re up against,” he said.

Hotel Association president Dixon Seeto said even Fiji’s neighbours including Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu had also become competitors.

“They’ve learnt the tricks that we have learnt,” Seeto said, calling for an “a cohesive government-private sector approach”.

He said while this new partnership was producing results such as dialogue with Fiji’s Inland Revenue and Customs Authority “instead of us throwing arrows at them”, there was still a lot of work that needed to be done to increase Fiji’s attraction as a tourism destination.

“I would like to see the Forum to be results oriented and not just a talk fest,” Seeto said.