Cancels 2014 event
Chairman of the Bula Tourism Trust, David Voss, has announced the cancellation of the Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange (BFTE) planned for May 2014.
He said now that Tourism Fiji has decided to stage a new event, the Fiji Tourism Expo, “it is not in the best interests of Fiji’s tourism industry to have two very similar events, held in the same month, seeking participation from the same Fiji sellers and the same overseas buyers”.
Therefore BFTE has been cancelled and the trustees wished all participants in the Tourism Fiji event great success.
Mr Voss said the Bula Tourism Exchange was established 18 years ago by Fiji’s tourism industry as a charitable trust.
This, he said was to promote Fiji tourism products using private sector funds and is highly regarded as a very successful event, marketing and publicising Fiji and the South Pacific to the global travel industry.
Mr Voss said BFTE expanded a few years ago to include limited Pacific Islands involvement which “seemed to have upset Tourism Fiji and some Fiji sellers”.
He said: “But in the view of the Trustees the Pacific Islands by attending BFTE, reduced Fijian sellers costs and helped attract more buyers therefore creating more business opportunities.
“BFTE has also been in harmony with Government’s support for the Pacific Islands and the event has assisted Fiji Airways in promoting both Fiji and the Pacific Islands.”
Acknowledgement
On behalf of the trustees, Mr Voss thanked all those who had supported BFTE over many years.
He said: “Including our Pacific Island friends who have added so much in making BFTE such a wonderful showcase for Fiji and South Pacific tourism.”
Mr Voss said the trustees would be meeting soon to finalise plans to windup the BTE charitable trust and dispose of all assets in accordance with the Trust’s deed.
He also thanked the secretariat staff for their efforts and wished them well for the future.
Mr Voss thanked the management and staff of the InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa and their outstanding support in staging a fantastic event this year and for their assistance in planning the now cancelled BFTE 2014.
– Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange