By JYOTI PRATIBHA
With the launch of a user and search engine-friendly website, Fiji is one step closer to the rebranding efforts undertaken last year.
The website: www.fiji.travel allows holidaymakers to browse through large choices of accommodation, dining, and activities, plan, book their travel and share those plans via the social networking sites such as Facebook and twitter.
Acting Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum applauded the efforts of Tourism Fiji for their drive to market Fiji as the ultimate holiday destination.
Designed by a New Zealand-based specialist company, Sparks Interactive, the new website is part of the recently announced global rebranding of the country’s tourism effort under the slogan “Fiji – Where Happiness Finds You”.
Launching the site at the Sheraton Fiji Resort and Spa in Nadi last evening, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum saod the initiative put Fiji on the cutting edge of website marketing and had important benefits for the Fijian tourism industry.
Benefits for industry
“We expect that the ability of holidaymakers to get quotes and book their holidays direct will lead to an overall increase in the number of bookings.
“Those direct bookings mean more money in the pockets of local operators, rather than their overseas agents, and more of the returns from tourism being kept in Fiji.
“Local operators are also empowered by giving them easy access to the website to showcase their various attractions. It acts as a kind of living travel brochure about Fiji that can be altered and updated at any time”, he said.
Tourism industry stakeholders play an important role in updating the information provided on the site.
Sparks Interactive chief executive officer Dave Sparks explained that the website provided the latest and most user friendly options for holidaymakers.
(From left) Rosie Holidays and Ahura Resorts managing director Tony Whitton, Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the Starwood Group’s Shane Cunning and Tourism Fiji board member Lawrence Tikaram share a light moment at the launch of Tourism Fiji’s new website last night. Photo:LITIA MATHEWSELL
He also said the preferences of holidaymakers would be tracked which would allow Tourism Fiji to collate efficient data regarding what brings people to Fiji.
The Acting Chair of Tourism Fiji, Elizabeth Powell, said prospective holidaymakers now had a much higher degree of control over what they wanted to see and do in Fiji.
“Visitors used to be dependent on travel agents for advice or the word of mouth of family and friends. Now they can examine all of the available options on one interactive website from the comfort of their homes anywhere in the world. With all the information they need at their fingertips in a user friendly online environment, they’re in the best possible position to get the most out of their holidays and Fiji has more opportunity to get repeat business ”, she said.