An online platform that will assist in marketing Fiji to the world as well as interact with travelers was launched by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Hon. Faiyaz Koya today in Nadi.
Officiating at the soft launch of the PayNowStayLater initiative, Minister Koya highlighted that this unique buying concept presents the highpoints of purchasing future travel, as a niche solution, in Fiji’s bid towards accepting the new normal.
“There is great uncertainty and big questions around what tourism will look like in the next few weeks, months and even years to come. When will borders open, when is it safe to book a holiday? These questions will linger for a while and along with trust, consumers seek flexibility, value for money and convenience. The PayNowStayLater platform gives you just that.
“It is worth mentioning that the PayNowStayLater online platform will open doors of opportunity for our hoteliers, with the added benefit of having a partner conduct marketing and sales conversions at little to no cost,” Minister Koya said.
Minister Koya stated that this is an opportune time for hoteliers to be a part of an innovative platform, which is in harmony with a re-engineered paradigm and the new normal.
“It presents combined benefits to hotels and resorts including potential travelers. Hotels and resorts will be able to generate quick business, earn instant required cash-flow, and complement direct booking strategies with a minimal mark-up of 5.5 percent commission in comparison to other Online Travel Agents.
He stated that potential travelers will also have access to deals through one consolidated platform with flexible travel conditions, longer travel period duration for guaranteed bookings and money back guarantee cover assurance.
He also stated that as a 100 per cent Fijian owned platform, PayNowStayLater intends to ensure hoteliers generate cash-flow to meet ongoing costs for basic maintenance, reduced salaries and utilities, in readiness to receive guests when borders open.
“As they say, trust is now the new currency of the new normal. And to build and maintain this trust, we have developed a set of COVID Safe Guidelines to help the industry adapt to this new normal.”
The platform currently has fifteen properties signed up. To intensify uptake, the PayNowStayLater team will undertake vigorous marketing in the Australian and New Zealand market through:
- Search Engine Optimisation, incorporating specific key words such as “Fiji Holidays”
- Social media advertising, targeting high engagement intervals in Australia and New Zealand
- Email marketing and press releases to key media contacts, and
- Leveraging key tourism partners such as Market Development Facility, Pacific Tourism Organisation and other tourism associations, to name a few.