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Fiji has tapped into one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world and with it access to lucrative markets of Europe and the Middle East.
This came via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Turkey, paving the way for an Air Service Agreement between the two countries.
At the signing was a Fiji delegation of senior government officials who attended an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conference, which ended yesterday in the Turkish capital, Instanbul.
“The MOU is a prelude to the newly negotiated air services agreement proper that the Fiji delegation has also concluded with Turkey at this week’s ICAO Air Services negotiations conference,” the government said in a statement.
“The ASA effectively permits the designated airlines of either party to operate two daily passenger flights and a daily cargo flight between Ankara/Istanbul and Nadi/Nausori. The agreed services can commence immediately.”
The official signing of the ASA by both parties will be held in Fiji later.
“Significantly for Fiji we are entering into a partnership with a key global aviation player whose influence in Europe and the Middle East region continues to grow,” the government said.
“In our ongoing pursuit to expand our air transport links world wide the driving forces have remained the nation’s economy, the safety and comfort of the traveling public and the viability of our national airline.”
Fiji had two ASA formal meetings and three informal meeting at the conference. The three informal meetings were with India, Singapore and Hong Kong resulting in principled agreements for formal ASA consultations in India and Singapore in January and the signing off on the Fiji/Hong Kong ASA that was negotiated in April 2009.
The Fiji/Turkey ASA is expected to lead to meaningful bilateral relationship between Fiji and Turkey in areas of trade and tourism, the government statement said.
Turkey has one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world.
In 2008 the Turkish tourism industry brought in $8 billion representing 79 million visitors. Turkey targets a return on investment from the tourism industry of $1.35 trillion liras by 2026.
