SUVA (Pacnews) — A group tasked with rebuilding Fiji’s tourism industry after the Dec. 5 coup has started a new campaign costing F$5 million ($3 million).
Fijis Tourism Action Group plans to quickly to recover the industry’s image and the first phase of this plan will target Australians and New Zealanders.
The marketing campaign of the first phase is expected to cost F$1.2 million ($700,000) with the other campaigns to follow still being developed.
Tourism Action Group Chairman Damend Gounder told the Travel Blackboard Web site that in recent meetings, members of the group reviewed the current plans to try and increase forward bookings and substantially increasing foreign exchange through increased visitor numbers.
Grounder said the industry’s support and that overwhelmed him with proper funding, tourism will return to pre-coup levels by July 2007.
“All of us in Fiji must work together to bring tourism back to pre-crisis levels,” he said.
“We are very aware of the importance of tourism, not only to protect the livelihoods of the employees of those directly involved with the industry, but thousands of people indirectly involved.”
Apart from the F$5 million ($3 million) set aside for the marketing campaign, hoteliers and other industry members will be providing around F$4 million ($2.4 million) in discounted products and services for tourists.