US Travel Market Lucrative for Fiji

29/11/2009

American executive editor Destinations for Performance Media Group Mr James Ruggia believes the US leisure traveller is an affluent target for Fiji’s tourism.

“The US traveller is a really good market because they spend more per head than any other traveller in the world,” said Mr Ruggia.

“It’s a high revenue market. When you have a high revenue traveller you’re using fewer resources environmentally, economically and you’re getting a much bigger return for your marketing dollar.”

Mr Ruggia was one of three international media figures present at Tourism Fiji’s joint US-NZ Matai convention at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa this week.

Tourism Fiji has pledged to springboard 600,000 visitors to Fiji in 2010. Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto said visitor numbers are not the only factor, but “also push up the yield.”

“We cannot continue to [sell] a destination with cheap prices. We need to come up with increasing yields that will help us all,” Mr Tuamoto notes.

“As we do that it strengthens our foreign exchange earnings, which helps individuals find employment and helps Government in infrastructure development among other things. So it’s critical for next year.”

Fiji’s tourism marketing arm is aiming for one million visitors by 2016, a possible feat if, as the tourism boss says: “We’re able to create the right demand.”

Fiji operators in the tourism sector such as Nai’a Fiji, Toberua Island Resort, Rydges Hideaway Resort, and Vatulele Island Resort to name a few have responded positively to the US-NZ matai exchange. Not only does it boost their product, but projects Fiji as a destination worth the travel miles.

The well-travelled tourism editor and writer, Mr Ruggia, expressed that tourism is a “peace industry” as it brings cultural elements together.

Matai specialists, who are an extension of Fiji’s tourism operators in their respective countries, are essentially the knowledge pool on Fiji products and Fiji.

The programme, which has been running for some ten years, is an annual event on Tourism Fiji’s events calendar.

Tourism Fiji expects to fly into Fiji Australian matais end of November and will launch the programme in Germany in 2010.


-Ends-

 


US travel market lucrative for Fiji

26/11/2009

American executive editor Destinations for Performance Media Group Mr James Ruggia believes the US leisure traveller is an affluent target for Fiji’s tourism.

“The US traveller is a really good market because they spend more per head than any other traveller in the world,” said Mr Ruggia.

“It’s a high revenue market. When you have a high revenue traveller you’re using fewer resources environmentally, economically and you’re getting a much bigger return for your marketing dollar.”

Mr Ruggia was one of three international media figures present at Tourism Fiji’s joint US-NZ Matai convention at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa this week.

Tourism Fiji has pledged to springboard 600,000 visitors to Fiji in 2010. Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto said visitor numbers are not the only factor, but “also push up the yield.”

“We cannot continue to [sell] a destination with cheap prices. We need to come up with increasing yields that will help us all,” Mr Tuamoto notes.

“As we do that it strengthens our foreign exchange earnings, which helps individuals find employment and helps Government in infrastructure development among other things. So it’s critical for next year.”

Fiji’s tourism marketing arm is aiming for one million visitors by 2016, a possible feat if, as the tourism boss says: “We’re able to create the right demand.”

Fiji operators in the tourism sector such as Nai’a Fiji, Toberua Island Resort, Rydges Hideaway Resort, and Vatulele Island Resort to name a few have responded positively to the US-NZ matai exchange. Not only does it boost their product, but projects Fiji as a destination worth the travel miles.

The well-travelled tourism editor and writer, Mr Ruggia, expressed that tourism is a “peace industry” as it brings cultural elements together.

Matai specialists, who are an extension of Fiji’s tourism operators in their respective countries, are essentially the knowledge pool on Fiji products and Fiji.

The programme, which has been running for some ten years, is an annual event on Tourism Fiji’s events calendar.

Tourism Fiji expects to fly into Fiji Australian matais end of November and will launch the programme in Germany in 2010.