Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association

Media Release – 10th December 2019

Tourism Fiji is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Regional Manager to head up its Australian team, based in Sydney. Mr. Rob Thompson joins the team after leaving his role as Regional Director at Tahiti Tourisme.

With over two decades of experience within the Tourism industry, Mr Thompson will lead the Australian team, bringing with him a wealth of understanding of the Australian market.

After spending the last 17 years at Tahiti Tourisme, where he was responsible for managing the Australian, New Zealand and Indian markets, Fijian-born Rob Thompson will take on the role of Regional Manager, Tourism Fiji – Australia, overseeing all trade and consumer marketing activity for the destination.

In welcoming Rob to the position, Tourism Fiji CEO, Mr. Matthew Stoeckel said Rob’s appointment is an exciting development in Tourism Fiji’s Australian market operations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rob into the team, he has an incredible understanding of the Australian market, as well as the Pacific Islands, and will bring with him the knowledge required to lead the team in our single largest source market for Fiji.”

Born in Fiji and growing up in Suva, Rob will return to his roots with the new role: “I had an incredible time promoting neighbouring Pacific destination, The Islands of Tahiti as Regional Director, but the opportunity to join the Tourism Fiji Australian team and promote my home country to Aussies, was too good an opportunity to miss.”

“I’m incredibly excited to start with Tourism Fiji and work with well-established and highly skilled team across both trade and consumer marketing activities. It feels like I’m coming home!”

Mr Thompson started his new role yesterday (9 December).

About Tourism Fiji: Tourism Fiji, is the Fijian government’s agency responsible for marketing Fiji as the ideal destination for leisure travel to the world, with a view to maximize the number of visitors to Fiji. Tourism Fiji has established a presence in nine key markets around the globe and its activities include advertising, public relations and media programs, trade shows and programs for the tourism industry and consumer promotions to better showcase Fiji – where happiness finds you. www.fiji.travel

For more information please contact:

Ellen Magnus

Tourism Fiji

Communications Coordinator

Mobile: + (679) 777 7912

Phone: + (679) 672 1721

Email: estolz@tourismfiji.com.fj

FBC News – Friday 6th December 2019.

More than 16,000 tourists from the United Kingdom visited Fiji last year.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at a tourism event at Fiji’s High Commission in London, England.

Bainimarama says due to the nature of the journey, tourists from the U.K. and Europe spend longer periods of time in Fiji.Read more…

Fiji Village – Friday 6th November, 2019.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji states that the Fijian economy is expected to grow by a lower 1 percent in 2019, from the 3.5 percent growth last year due to the persistent weak business confidence and reduced government spending.

The RBF says latest domestic sectoral performances reveal mixed outcomes.

In the year to October, low ore quality and difficult mining conditions led to a decline in gold production, dwindling construction activity contributed to lower pine (-12.9%) and sawn timber production (-10.8%) and lower foreign demand led to lower woodchip production.Read more…

05 December 2019 – Since the last update on December 2^nd 2019 there are now 16 confirmed cases of measles. The latest confirmed case is a 24 year old from Sakoca in Tacirua, Suva. The Suva Subdivisional Outbreak Response Team has rapidly responded to this latest case.

The 16 cases to date are from the following areas in the Central Division:

• 11 cases from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision (Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi, and Makosoi Deuba)
• 3 cases from Suva Subdivision (Samabula, Vatuwaqa, and Tacirua).
• 2 cases from Rewa Subdivision (Koronivia, Nasilai Village Nakelo).

Measles is a highly contagious disease; therefore, non-essential travel to Serua/Namosi and Nasilai Village in Nakelo is strongly discouraged.

Measles is very contagious.  To help stop the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services also advises Fijians to take the following precautions:

• Avoid non-essential travel to Serua/Namosi and Nasilai Village in Nakelo.  If you need to travel to these areas, please get vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before travel. Please avoid taking those that cannot get vaccinated (e.g. babies under the age of 6 months and pregnant women) to the outbreak areas.
• Avoid holding or attending large gatherings of people, especially in Central Division, but also those that bring participants from across the country or overseas (such as youth camps, religious gatherings, graduation ceremonies, sporting events, etc.).  Measles can spread very easily among large groups of people if they are not immune, who can then take the disease back into their communities.
• If you are holding an event with international visitors, or participants from an outbreak area, please strongly encourage them to get vaccinated against measles at least two (2) weeks before travel.  This especially applies to visitors traveling from other countries with measles outbreaks i.e. New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is conducting an immunisation campaign targeting people who may not be fully immunised and are most at risk of measles infection. Already close to 100,000 people around the country have been vaccinated in phase one of the campaign. This includes over 20,000 people in the outbreak area of Serua/Namosi.

People who got vaccinated in phase one of the campaign will not be vaccinated again in phase two. Only children who are due a second dose in line with the national vaccination schedule or children who have defaulted and are due for a second dose will be eligible. 

The second phase of this immunisation campaign began on Wednesday 4^thDecember.

Across Fiji it is targeting people in the groups listed below:

1)    Any child in Fiji who has not received 2 doses of a measles vaccine as per the national immunisation schedule

2)    Any child in Fiji aged 12 and 18 months who is due their routine measles vaccine as per the national immunisation schedule

3)    Any person in Fiji travelling overseas, however evidence of travel must be provided i.e. travel itinerary or ticket

4)    All health care workers in Fiji

5)    All airport and hotel staff

In Central Division only, the campaign will also target:

1)    All children aged 6 months to 5 years

2)    All people born between 1980 and 2000 (19 to 39 year olds, who should have ID available if asked).

3)    All residents of Serua/Namosi aged 6 months and older.

Pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, and those with a known allergy to the vaccine should not be vaccinated.

Central Division is prioritized for this phase of the campaign as all confirmed cases to date are in this division, and the focus remains on containing the current outbreak. A batch of 200,000 vaccines received last weekend will be targeted for Central Division for the reasons detailed above.  The other divisions will be targeted once more vaccine supplies, which are currently on order, are received.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to acknowledge the assistance provided by UNICEF and the Australian and New Zealand Governments in securing vaccines for Fiji.

More information or for the latest measles updates, visit the Ministry of Health & Medical Services website.

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Measles information

Transmission

Measles is a highly infectious airborne viral disease that spreads easily through the air through breathing, coughing, and sneezing. You are at risk of getting measles if you breathe the same air as someone with the disease and you are not immune. You are not immune if you have not been vaccinated, or you have never had the disease.

Symptoms

The symptoms of measles are:

Fever and a rash with any of the following: runny nose, sneezing, cough, red/watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth. The rash starts after the other symptoms and spreads all over the body.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for measles, as it is your body’s immune system that fights off the disease. Most people recover from a measles infection in 8-10 days with rest, and ensuring that they are eating and drinking to avoid dehydration.

Complications

Some people infected with measles develop severe complications such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or encephalitis (brain swelling). These people require hospitalization. Children under the age of five (5), babies younger than one (1) year old, pregnant women, adults over the age of twenty (20), and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of complications.

Prevention

A safe and effective vaccine exists for measles. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services provides measles vaccine free to children. Since 2003, all children in Fiji are offered two (2) doses of the combination measles-rubella vaccine – starting from twelve (12) months of age. Fiji’s immunization coverage for children is good, and the Ministry also conducted a supplemental campaign in 2017 for all one (1) to ten (10) year olds. Please ensure your children have received at least two (2) doses of the measles vaccine according to the Fiji immunization schedule. This information should be in your child’s ‘Fiji Child Health Record’ (which is a booklet/card every child born in Fiji is provided) for children under the age of 5, and the school health card for school aged children.

Measles in Fiji

Because we have an effective immunization program, measles is rare in Fiji. However, outbreaks around the world, including in neighbouring countries, still puts Fiji at risk of having cases of measles.

SPTO – Thursday December 5th, 2019.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Development of Regional Micro-Qualifications for the tourism sector has been signed between the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.

The MOA is aimed at addressing the growing demand for a skilled, inclusive and productive Pacific tourism industry and will be implemented by all three agencies. Under the MOA, the three signatories will form a ‘Regional Tourism Sector Skills Coalition’ to collaborate and respond to labor demands and quality industry-relevant training in the tourism sector.

The Coalition will work in line with the principles and priorities of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) for industry-responsive TVET programs.  Collective efforts will be aimed at supporting and adding value to efforts at national level, with respect for the autonomy and sovereignty of national qualifications.Read more…

SPTO – Thursday 5th December, 2019.

Transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to account for 5.3% of all man-made CO2 emissions by 2030, up from 5% in 2016, a landmark new report from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Transport Forum (ITF) shows. At the same time, as tourist numbers rise and the sector makes progress in achieving low-carbon travel, emissions per passenger kilometer are expected to decline over the coming decade. Against this backdrop, UNWTO calls for enhanced cooperation between the transport and tourism sectors to effectively transform tourism for climate action.

Launched at an official side-event of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme during the UN Climate Summit, COP25 in Madrid, the “Transport Related CO2 Emissions of the Tourism Sector” presents the emissions produced by the different modes of tourism transport. As the number of both international and domestic tourists continues to rise, this data is presented alongside the predicted growth in emissions to 2030 and is set against the so called ‘current ambition´ for the decarbonization of transport.Read more…

SPTO – Thursday 5th December, 2019.

The Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Abigail Chang as the new Country Director for Solomon Islands and Kiribati.

Ms Chang will take up her new position in Honiara in December, 2019.

She joins the APTC from the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) in Suva, Fiji, where she served as the Regional Technical Specialist.

In addition to having served in notable positions at the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Fiji Forest Industries Limited, Ms Chang also undertook Asian Development Bank’s scoping mission for Financial Education in Nauru in March this year.

In her role as the Country Director, Ms Chang will lead APTC’s engagement through forging coalitions with partner institutions, industry and governments in Solomon Islands and Kiribati to achieve sustainable locally driven reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).Read more…

National Disaster Management Office, 03 December 2019 – The general public is advised to note the following Public Advisory from the National Disaster Management Office with regards to Live Tsunami Siren Test on Thursday, 5th December 2019 from 10am – 11am.

Members in and around the test areas highlighted below are advised that NO EVACUATION IS REQUIRED.

SPTO – Wednesday 4th December, 2019.

Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection, the South Pacific paradise set along the legendary serene coastline of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, was the proud recipient of The Travel Awards 2019 Sustainable Tourism Company of the Year. Just weeks after also being recognised as the No.1 resort in Australia and the South Pacific in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Travel Awards Gala, presented by Travel Weekly, in association with media partner Seven West Media’s Better Homes and Gardens saw the travel and tourism industry descend on Alexandria for the prestigious award ceremony.

The consumer and travel trade facing event, now in its second year, is designed to celebrate the tourism industry. From wholesalers, destinations, airlines, tourism boards, cruise lines, retailers and a myriad of other travel-related companies.Read more…

Media Release, 03 December 2019 – The Fiji National Sports Commission with FASANOC and the Ministry of Sports have issued an advise that all sporting tournaments be postponed until next year due to the measles outbreak.

Please refer to the Media Release below;

InterContinental Media Release – Tuesday 3rd December, 2019.

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is pleased to welcome Lachlan Walker as its new General Manager.

Lachlan joins the award-winning resort with a wealth of international experience, strong commercial acumen and a respected background as a hotel leader. His 30-year career has seen him work in across a number of markets and brands, including at Regent Four Seasons Hotels, Park Hyatt, AccorHotels, Starwood and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where he was most recently Area General Manager, Regional New South Wales.

Lachlan takes on the position of General Manager at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, as well as Area General Manager of IHG’s hotels in the South Pacific, including Holiday Inn Suva, Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu.

“Fiji was the second country I visited on my first ever overseas trip as a child.  I fell in love with both Fiji and the hospitality industry immediately and could never have imagined that I’d have the opportunity to combine the two and return so many years later in a professional capacity – especially to a resort with such an unrivalled reputation,” says Lachlan.

“My career has been a colourful and exciting journey and now I am thrilled to work alongside the teams in Fiji and Vanuatu to take the South Pacific portfolio to even greater heights,” adds Lachlan.

“Since starting in this role I’ve personally experienced the world-famous Fijian welcome, and I look forward to work with the team to showcase IHG’s True Hospitality to visitors to these spectacular South Pacific islands”.

Lachlan will be based at the resort on Fiji’s Natadola Bay, taking over from previous GM Andrew Davidson, who has moved to Vietnam to take on a new role as Area General Manager with IHG.

Fiji Sun, 30 November 2019 – Port Denarau Marina Limited has recorded an operating profit after tax of $3,992,023 as at the end of July this year, after providing for income tax expense of $684,745.

The profit is an increase from 2018 which was $2,899,782 with $754,212 being income tax expense for that year.

This was noted in chairman David George Skeggs’ Report that was tabled during the Port Denarau Marina annual general meeting yesterday at Port Denarau Marina.…read more

The Fiji Times, 29 November 2019 – THE prices for fuel have been reviewed and changes will come into effect by December 1, 2019.

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has determined the prices for unleaded petrol, premix, kerosene, and diesel in a statement issued today.

The retail fuel prices for motor spirit decreased by 1 cent a litre from $2.19 to $2.18 a litre, as well as premix falling from $2.02 to $2.01 a litre.…read more

Fiji Sun, 29 November 2019 – Ensuring the welfare of employees living in Fiji’s fastest-growing city and coping with the evolving modern scape can be challenging.

Asco Motors Limited became the first company in Fiji to ensure that the mental health of its staff is taken care of after hosting a training with specialist organisation Lifeline Fiji.…read more

Fijivillage, 29 November 2019 – Fiji Airports welcomed its first flight into the newly refurbished Bureta Airport Runway in Levuka this morning.

Fiji Airports CEO, Faiz Khan says this demonstrates the ongoing commitment by Fiji Airports to provide long term benefit for people living in remote areas of Fiji through better connectivity.…read more

South Sea Cruises, 29 November 2019 – In early 2019 South Sea Cruises became the only tour and transport operator in Fiji to achieve Telarc ISO accreditation for both its Quality Management Systems and Occupational Health & Safety Systems. South Sea Cruises are proud to announce that not only have we renewed both of those accreditations, but we have also achieved a third related ISO accreditation related specifically to the company’s Environmental Management Systems.

South Sea Cruises’ have undertaken to seek these accreditations in order to ensure the systems, policies, procedures and services offered are of the highest possible standards. The accreditations achieved provide our customers and industry partners even further confidence in their dealings with South Sea Cruises.

The achievement of the third accreditation for Environmental Management Systems was extremely important given our focus on the environment and reducing our impact wherever possible. This accreditation is off the back of large initiatives such as our fleet replacement and modernization program over the past two and half years and initiatives to reduce single use plastic both aboard Blue Lagoon Cruises and at South Sea Island.

The three accreditations gained are:
1. Occupational Health & Safety Management System (ISO 45001)
2. Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001)
3. Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001).

Telarc is New Zealand’s most recognised and longest established body for auditing and accrediting ISO standards that are acknowledged in more than 160 countries.

Tourism Fiji: Nadi 28 November 2019 – Tourism Fiji is excited to announce the next phase of its ‘BULANAIRES’ program, following the successful launch of the campaign on 20 March 2019 to mark the International Day of Happiness.

What is a Bulanaire? Simply put – a Bulanaire is a person who is rich in happiness.

On the International Day of Happiness on 20 March 2019 Tourism Fiji released an inaugural Bulanaires list that featured a selection of local and international personalities who were rich in happiness. The campaign generated an incredible 39 million engagements across our international markets, demonstrating the effectiveness of its unique messaging.

In 2020 Tourism Fiji is building upon this success by expanding the program across Fiji’s tourism sector to find more Bulanaires and through them develop more content for the destination that will inspire more people to come and visit Fiji.

Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Matthew Stoeckel said, “We believe our Bulanaires program provides a unique, ownable position for Fiji that represents the true character of the destination. Importantly it profiles the incredible warm hospitality of our tourism industry which makes us such an appealing destination to visit. We are confident that the next phase of the campaign will continue to go a long way in attracting more people to come and visit Fiji to experience the place where happiness finds you for themselves” he said.

For the next phase of this program, Tourism Fiji has extended an invitation to Fiji’s tourism operators to nominate a member of their team to be Bulanaires and participate directly in the campaign.

The selected Bulanaires will then work with Tourism Fiji to help share the ‘Bula Spirit’ with the world and reinforce why Fiji is the place where happiness finds you.

To find out more about the Bulanaires program or if you would like to nominate a Bulanaire, visit www.fiji.travel/bulanaires

Tourism Fiji: Nadi, 28 November 2019 – Tourism Fiji became the first island destination to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Weibo in Chengdu on 21 November to accelerate the existing marketing activities of Tourism Fiji in China with Weibo.

This MOU will enable Tourism Fiji to closer collaborate with Weibo on social content development, Chinese influencer engagement and upgrade the promotional strategy of Tourism Fiji on Weibo. It will provide Chinese travellers with quality content that will inspire them to travel to Fiji.

Weibo is China’s biggest public social media network that allows people to create, share and discover content online. Until September 2019, Weibo’s monthly active users have reached 497 million and 216 million average daily active users. Besides, Weibo is also the biggest influencer content production and sharing platform.

Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Matthew Stoeckel said, “Tourism Fiji has enjoyed a long and prosperous partnership with Weibo that has enhanced awareness of the destination in China.

I’m delighted to announce a strengthening of this relationship through the MOU. China is Fiji’s fourth largest market and we are confident that this collaborative approach will significantly assist Fiji to engage our Chinese travellers and drive further visitor arrivals from the market.”

This strategic partnership follows the establishment of a dedicated Tourism Fiji Office in Greater China last year to further develop the market. Tourism Fiji continues to invest in the market and recently partnered with Weibo to welcome the well-known Chinese actor and singer Mr. Luo Yunxi to Fiji. Mr. Luo is regarded as a unique, positive and influential storyteller and was engaged by Tourism Fiji to visit the destination and share his experiences across his networks on Weibo.

Chief Editor of Sina and Weibo Travel, Brenda Yang said, “We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationships with Tourism Fiji. Fiji offers an unforgettable and exciting Fijian experience and it’s on the rise among foreign island destinations in China market with named as Top 10 Most Promising Outbound Tourist Destination by Weibo. We look forward to working with Tourism Fiji and its partners to extend Fiji’s warmth of hospitality to more Chinese travellers.”

Under the agreement, Tourism Fiji will work with Weibo to carry out comprehensive and strategic cooperation in destination marketing on Weibo.

Tourism Fiji Regional Manager in Greater China, Mr. Vincent Zheng said, “The signing of this MOU marks the consolidation of a true partnership. I would like to express again my sincere thanks to Weibo travel department in making this partnership a reality. With good will, clear ambitious and strong commitment work together, I believe it brings our work in line with the goals and targets set out for China market.”

The collaborative approach further enables Tourism Fiji to engage more Chinese travelers and market Fiji as the ideal destination for leisure travel to the world, with a view to maximize the number of visitors to Fiji.