DOLPHIN watch tours are generating almost a quarter of a million dollars annually for a local business, adding value to tourism activities in the country.
Natalei Eco Lodge registrant Viliame Koyamaibole said about 5000 people including those that arrive for the day trip and guests at the lodge signed up for dolphin watch tours throughout the year, paying the flat rate of $45 per person per dolphin tour. Continue reading
STRAP yourself in for adventure in the island nation’s capital.
SHOP LIKE A LOCAL
You’ll find the Suva Market off the main wharf and next to the city’s bus station. A hive of activity, it has more than 100 stalls brimming with fresh produce and handcrafts. Don’t miss the seafood brought in from the harbour at the back door. The best days to visit are Thursday to Saturday, but you’re bound to bag a bargain any day of the week.
THE Jim Beam Uprising Beach Resort Festival of Music,Dance and Lights was hailed a success with hopes high that it will bring more tourists to the area.
Organisers of the festival, Pacific Coast Events and Promotions said they were looking to once again make Pacific Harbour a hub for tourists through the festival.
Posted in Fiji Events, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Visit Fiji
Tagged Fiji, jim beam music festival
Picture a verdant, 333-island Polynesian archipelago of incomparable beauty, spread over nearly a half-million square-miles of the South Seas, with a mystique as thick as the tropical jungles enveloping it. And you’re picturing Fiji.
The Bula Spirit?
It’s a feeling as much as it is a definition. It’s an ancient tradition here. In the dictionary, “Bula” is defined as the Fijian word for “welcome” or “hello.” But in the real world, “Bula” is much more than a mere word.
It’s really a state of mind, perhaps best-expressed in the smiles on the faces of the people here – often called the world’s friendliest – and their delight in sharing their tropical paradise with their visitors (600,000 every year).
RICHARD ‘Dick’ Smith will fondly be remembered in many different ways by diverse people from all walks of life.
While his endeavours and pursuits in pioneering and fostering advances in the tourism industry are well publicised and noted, Dick Smith will also be remembered as a philanthropist and a man of the people by those whose lives he touched, helped and assisted.
Held in high esteem by members of the tourism fraternity, Dick Smith will go down in the annals of history as the pioneer of island resorts from when he built and operated Fiji’s first island based retreat — Castaway Island Resort in 1966.
Perhaps his most memorable feat in the tourism trade — one that he continued to his last days was the establishment of Dick’s Place in the late 60s which grew to become Musket Cove Resort in 1976 when the retreat first opened its doors for business.
How Dick Smith came to Malolo Lailai and pioneered the development of tourism by establishing one of the longest running resort companies is a tale of foresight, perseverance and commitment.
A brief history of Malolo Lailai and the birth of Musket Cove Resort (excerpt from the Musket Cove website)
In 1872, Malolo Lailai was sold to John Thomson by Ratu Kini, a Nadroga chief.
Malolo Lailai being uninhabited, was purchased to plant cotton, which was in shortage.
John Thomson died in 1876 and Malolo Lailai was sold to Louis Armstrong, an American.
Armstrong died bankrupt and the island was transferred to the Mortgage Agency of Australasia Ltd, who sold and transferred the island to James Borron in November 1891.
James Borron, who owned and ran several plantations throughout Fiji, leased Malolo Lailai to a Chinese family by the name of Wongket for 70 years to plant and harvest copra, a lucrative commodity during the late 1800s and 1900s.
However in the early 60s with the Wongket’s agreement to cut short the lease, it was sold to three owners, Richard Smith, Regge Raffe & Sir Ian MacFarlane.
The three then renamed Malolo Lailai as Leeward Island in the late 60s.
In the early 1970s, the three gentlemen decided to part ways and individually manage their portion of the island. Continue reading
Posted in Fiji, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Tourism, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Tagged Fiji, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tourism Industry, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Travel Fiji Investments, Fiji Vacation, Fiji Visit, Fijian Islands, Fijian Tourism, Richard 'Dick' Smith, Tourism Fiji, Tourism in Fiji, Travel Fiji, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Two of the tourism industry’s greats in Fiji have come together today in a deal between Fiji Holdings Limited (FHL) an investment company and South Sea Cruises. FHL owners of Blue Lagoon Cruises, the pioneers of small ship cruising in Fiji have sold it to South Sea Cruises and then in turn purchased the new larger South Sea Cruises.
The deal sees three iconic brands – Blue Lagoon, South Sea Cruises and Awesome Adventures come together in the one business. The current owners of South Sea Cruises, Roger Dold and Chris Jacobs have entered into a long term management agreement with FHL to continue to run and develop these businesses. In most ways it will be business as usual but the company has exciting plans for re-invigorating Blue Lagoon Cruises.
“The deal is a great one for Fiji and for us” says Roger Dold. “We are delighted that the business is going into Fijian ownership and that through FHL the people of Fiji will benefit from its success. And we still get to manage the business and take it forward in a country we love being involved in.”
Acting CEO of FHL Nouzab Fareed said he was proud to have brought this deal to fruition. “This is a large but exciting investment opportunity for FHL and it is indicative of the confidence we have in the future of tourism in Fiji. To be able to put Blue Lagoon into the group and then have it managed by acknowledged experts in their field is smart business for us. FHL is a listed company on the South Pacific Stock Exchange and its investors are primarily the people of Fiji. It is a wonderful thing for them to own this business which is a key player in Fiji’s tourism industry, particularly to the islands of the Mamanucas and the Yasawas.”
South Sea Cruises has been a member of the Marine Tourism Holdings Group and it has a network of Sales Executives and representation agreements around the world. Blue Lagoon will now become part of that portfolio and benefit from the experience and strong industry relationships that the company has forged over the years. “There are a great many synergies between the businesses that we look forward to developing. Blue Lagoon is a very, very good fit with our existing Fiji business”, says Chris Jacobs. “We will come out to industry with more information as required but for now Blue Lagoon will continue to operate its cruises to the Yasawas as brochured. We will ensure a smooth transition in anything we do and we are pretty sure the industry and consumers will love what is to come.”
Posted in Fiji, Fiji Investment, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Tourism, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Tagged Fiji, Fiji Holdings Limited, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tourism Industry, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Fiji Visit, Fijian Islands, Fijian Tourism, South Sea Cruises, Tourism Fiji, Tourism in Fiji, Travel Fiji, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, vacation, Visit Fiji
Fiji lures visitors with its aquamarine waters and soft, warm sands that you’ll find right outside the doors of your resort. In this setting, you can snorkel with manta rays in the Yasawas, scuba dive near Taveuni, or party in the Mamanucas. But if you prefer something a bit tamer, you can visit a history museum or stop to smell the orchids at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. With so much to do, don’t forget to lay back and relax—it’s not every day that you’re in Fiji.
Why go: If you’re looking for a good, central place to stay and enjoy the beach …continue
Why go: This chain of 20 islands garners attention for its lush landscapes, striking volcanic peaks, sparkling …continue
Why go: Catch a ferry from Port Denarau and zip over to the Mamanucas. This set of …continue
Why go: When you think of Taveuni, you should picture snorkeling and scuba diving. The coral reefs …continue
Why go: Vilavilairevo, Fijian for “jumping into the oven,” is the practice of firewalking. And it’s …continue
Why go: The Fiji Museum tells the history of the archipelago with artifacts that span 3,700 …continue
Why go: Port Denarau is located on Fiji’s Denarau Island, which is connected to Viti Levu …continue
Why go: The Garden of the Sleeping Giant is located in the foothills of the Nausori Highlands …continue
Posted in Fiji Holidays, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Vacation, Tourism, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Tagged Coral Coast, Fiji, Fiji Museum, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tourism Industry, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Fiji Visit, Fijian Islands, Fijian Tourism, Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Mamanucas, Port Denarau Marina, Taveuni, The Yasawas, Tourism Fiji, Tourism in Fiji, Travel Fiji, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, vacation, Visit Fiji
Fiji is best known to travelers as a destination of exclusive white-sand beach resorts, catering more to honeymooners than backpackers or budget travelers.
However, the more remote – and unspoiled – Yasawa Islands have a two-tier system in which resorts offer both private cabanas for well-heeled travelers and shared dorm rooms for about $75, including meals… a real find for frugal travelers.
The “Bula Pass” from Awesome Adventures Fiji gets you on board the Yasawa Flyer, which makes a daily run from the main island of Viti Levu to the Yasawas. The pass provides island-hopping for five or more days and costs much less if booked in advance.
The ferry hosts a reservations staff for the resorts so you can book both transportation and accommodations. Some island resorts will pick you up by boat as part of their package. Most people say that Viwa Island, with crystal-clear water, has the best beaches.
Day trips from the “mainland” of Denarau Island are available to the Yasawas for those who prefer Denaru’s hustle and bustle. Village homestays on various islands are available through several websites if you’re seeking a more family-oriented cultural vacation.
There are three levels of accommodation at the Yasawa and Mamanuca Island resorts to suit different tastes and budgets. Travel in one direction, so you maximize your time on each island.
The Flyer travels north up the chain of islands in the morning, stopping at each resort, and back south – again stopping off at each of them – in the afternoon. If you were to jump from south to north, back south and then north again, you’re spending more time on the ferry than the beach!
Sunday is a day of rest and the usual activities aren’t offered, so organize your stay accordingly.
Posted in Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation
Tagged budget, Bula Pass, Fiji, Fijian Islands, Fijian Tourism, holiday, resorts, Travel Fiji, vacation, Visit Fiji, Yasawa Islands
Through a special program sponsored by the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) and Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I), Pacific Island hoteliers across Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati are now benefiting from a special suite of Hotel Link Solutions products and services for accommodations.
The program is designed to improve the online presence of as many small- and medium-sized accommodations as possible in the Pacific Islands by providing them with a professional e-commerce enabled website or room-reservation widget that allows for the instant processing of bookings. The new websites are also optimized for third-party distribution if any hotels wish to sell their rooms via a selection of 40 online travel agencies.
“The trend of using brochures and talking is over now,” explained the Solomon Island’sVisitors Bureau chairman, Father Henry Teho. “The Bureau wants the local tourism operators to have their own web sites so the hotels control their own inbound promotions.”
Workshops led by Hotel Link Solutions consultants instruct local hoteliers across the Pacific Islands about the benefits of an improved online presence. Presentations and orientations are followed by photo shoots and digital-content collection sessions at the hotels in order to assist with the development of hotel websites or booking widgets inserted into existing websites. After on-site information collection, the website creation process is handled by the Hotel Link Solutions team.
The series of instructional programs began in Tonga, where many of the hoteliers are already seeing the benefits of their newly launched web sites. Additional workshops and hotel website construction have been completed in the Cook Islands, Fiji and Kiribati. More seminars have been scheduled over the next month in other countries.
“The hotels in Tonga were all thrilled to be a part of the program, and the results have exceeded their expectations,” reflected Hotel Link Solutions director Rob Shortland.
In a later phase of the program, a heavy emphasis is to be placed on best practices in social media. Hoteliers will be equipped with Facebook pages that have integrated booking widgets and optimized TripAdvisor listings.
For more information, visit http://www.hotellinksolutions.com or contact André Franchini at andre(at)hotellinksolutions(dot)com, +55 31 8448-4240 (Brazil).
About South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO)
The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) is the mandated inter-governmental organization for the tourism sector in the South Pacific with a membership that represents both the public and private sectors. Current full government member countries include the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, People’s Republic of China, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Private sector members include over 200 of the major tourism operators in the region.
About Pacific Island Trade & Invest (PT&I)
Pacific Islands Trade & Invest is the region’s foremost tourism promotion agency. As part of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, PT&I is working locally to contribute to the sustainable economic development of the Pacific Island countries by creating opportunities for successful connections for exporters, investors and stakeholder organizations.
About Hotel Link Solutions
Hotel Link Solutions is a first-generation digital-marketing services provider for the accommodation industry. As a WHL Group and ResOnline joint-venture, Hotel Link Solutions has tapped deep resources and wide industry reach to develop a world-class and competitive range of products. Hotel Link Solutions is committed to building a sustainable future for travel and to ensuring that all relationships with clients, staff, business partners and host communities are win-win.
Posted in Fiji, Fiji Holidays, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Tourism, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji
Tagged Fiji, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tourism Industry, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Fiji Visit, Fijian Islands, Fijian Tourism, Tourism Fiji, Tourism in Fiji, Travel Fiji, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Fiji’s Embassy in Washington DC USA is upskilling its staff so that the Embassy can strengthen its promotion of Fiji as an attractive tourism destination for Americans.
The Embassy has managed to secure a placement for one of its locally engaged staff (LES) to participate in the upcoming Tourism Fiji Matai Program scheduled for November in Fiji. The Embassy’s administrative assistant Ms Teresita Sauler-Cooke has been nominated to attend the November program.
The fully funded program is designed by Tourism Fiji to enable the embassy’s Matai Specialist to be trained and educated and on tourism opportunities offered by Fiji, increase the destination awareness and empower them (including potential travel traders) to sell Fiji as a tourism destination. The program includes an online training course which four modules in total that has to be completed before applicants can be considered to participate in the program.
The Embassy will also use the opportunity for Ms Sauler-Cooke to meet with officials at the Fiji’s Immigration Department, the Ministry of Justice, Birth, Death and Marriage (BDM) Registrar’s Office, Investment Fiji and other relevant Ministries that the embassy liaises with on daily basis.
Whilst in Fiji for the program Ms Sauler-Cooke will remain in Suva at least for an additional two days to undertake the Embassy’s orientation program after the completion of the 8-day visit. This exercise is not only important as it aimed to build up the Embassy’s contacts and facilitate service delivery.
Posted in Fiji Government, Fiji Holidays, Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Tourism, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji
Tagged Fiji Tourism, Fiji Tourism Industry, Fiji Tours, Fiji Travel, Fiji Vacation, Fiji Visit, Fijian Islands, Tourism Fiji, Tourism Fiji Matai Program, Tourism in Fiji, Travel Fiji, Travel to Fiji, Trips to Fiji, Visit Fiji