Sustainability and quality are two key focuses in Tourism Fiji’s plan for future tourism growth. With tourism a major income earner for the country, ensuring a structured tourism product growth is vital for both visitors and locals.
Tourism Fiji regional manager NZ Sonya Lawson says Fiji is a proud nation and is well aware that its natural resources are not only valuable tourist attractions but must also be honoured and protected.
‘This is reflected in the growing number of sustainable tourism initiatives in place throughout Fiji including mangrove and reef revitalisation, turtle releasing and growing of local organic produce for hotels and resort restaurants,’ she says.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has launched an environmental initiative onboard the MV Reef Endeavour to help stop plastic pollution in remote Fiji and look after and sustain the environment.
The Ocean Ambassador initiative focuses on cleaning up the plastic waste from the remote beaches and villages visited on Captain Cook Cruises three, four, seven and eleven-night cruises.

The industry needs to work together – tourism, sports, and agriculture – to help promote Samoa, says Jade Toomalatai, Samoa Tourism Authority. ‘While some already do, more accommodation providers need to consider packages or lowering rates outside of the busy season to help fill rooms in the off season,’ she says. ‘If not, tourists will go to other Pacific Islands, which may have more money to promote and also to discount rates.’

Most tourists to Samoa say they wish they had come to the island of Savaii first, rather than the more popular Upolu, according to Kelly Walker, manager of Savaii Lagoon Resort. Walker says ninety percent of the resort’s business comes from New Zealand, it’s popular with families because of the self-catering kitchens and safe beach, as well as the 60s+ market because of the peaceful location. 'Many people come for a month and have been doing so for the last 10 years', she says.

Fiji’s Nanuku Auberge Resort has a new round of special stay packages giving 20% off to guests choosing to stay between three to six nights or a 30% discount for those choosing to stay seven nights or longer.
Both offers have been value added to include a choice from two bonus family-oriented activity options for two adults and two children with children 12 years and under staying, playing and eating for free.
The ‘family-time’ bonus includes a guided Food Safari visiting local markets and gathering fresh local produce – crabs, prawns, fruit and vegetables – which the resort’s chef will prepare for their dinner.

Totoka Hair and Make Up is aiming to handle about 500 weddings a year as well as a consistent number of film and TV bookings, says director Leanne Goff.
The company is also set to offer a range of new pre-wedding pamper packages for brides next year.
A relative newcomer to the hair and make up industry in Fiji, Totoka Hair & Make Up has just completed its third successful year in business and has arguably become the busiest and most sought after hair and make up business in Fiji.

Agents that book clients to stay at Seabreeze Resort Samoa between 1 November 2017 and 31 March 2019 can enter the draw to win a fantastic holiday of a lifetime to Seabreeze.

The incentive runs until 14 May 2018 and for every booking made travel agents earn three entries and wholesalers earn one entry into the holiday draw.

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort is making some changes in a bid to set itself apart from other beachfront resorts in Samoa, as witnessed by a group of agents and wedding planners on a recent wedding-focused famil to the island last week.
Sandeep Prasad, sales office manager for Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, says they are doing some changes across the property, in an effort to bring some traditional Samoan cultural elements into the rooms and surrounds.
‘We are working hard on setting our property apart form our competitors. Samoan art and craft is very beautiful; we feel other properties don’t take advantage of that.

Fiji’s newest taste of island life close to Denarau has impressed travel product and marketing managers who visited the destination for Fiji Day this week.
Malamala Beach Club opened a few months ago but this was the first time Kiwi trade have had the opportunity to check it out in action.
‘Most Kiwis want an outer island experience but they book Denarau,’ says Rachel Mancini, marketing and product, House of Travel.

The community of Laamu recently came together on the island of Gan for the second ever Laamu Turtle Festival.
This year's theme was once again keeping turtles in Laamu Safe and Protected, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of sea turtles and providing a platform for community engagement about greater marine

Tourism Fiji says its campaign to attract young and adventurous travellers to Fiji is off to a flying start.

In its first two weeks, the social media-based campaign fronted by Kiwi adventurer and influencer Logan Dodds reached 1.3 million Kiwi 18-29-year-olds, attracting plenty of positive engagement and reactions.

Vanuatu Tourism Office and Air Vanuatu say that international tourism is unlikely to be affected by the volcanic activity on Ambae Island.

In a statement NF says: ‘Whilst not wishing to make light of the situation in Ambae, currently, approximately 8000 people have been evacuated from the eastern side of the island as volcanic ash is contaminating the water supplies.

‘The alert is on a relatively confined basis and this is not currently affecting air services either to Ambae itself or the rest of the Air Vanuatu network.’

New Caledonia Tourism (NCT) is singing a different tune with the launch of a new destination marketing campaign, ‘Sounds of New Caledonia’, in collaboration with Triple J feature artists and Laneway Festival faves, Crooked Colours.

Agents were keen to hear about the new look Tropica Island Resort when luxury and couples orientated Fiji properties toured the country last week. Gai Keniry, director of sales at Tropica, says the resort has seven new sanctuary pool suites and all 24 rooms at the resort now have private outdoor showers.

With an average of two or three cruise ships arriving each week, carrying between 500-2000 passengers, the official opening of a major waterfront development signals a key moment in Vanuatu’s future. The opening ceremony on 1 September 2017 of the Seafront Veiawa Park, ‘Made in Vanuatu’ Haus Blong Handikraf and Mahitahi Market coincided with last week’s Tok Tok, a showcase of Vanuatu’s tourism sector. 

The adults only Seabreeze Resort Samoa has launched stay/pay deals and bonuses, with savings of over NZ$1000 per couple. Deals are on sale until 30 September 2017, valid for travel from 1 October to 30 April 2018 and available only through travel agents.

A successful Vanuatu Tok Tok wrapped up on Friday night with an over-riding feeling that the destination is making positive strides. According to Allan Kalfabun, marketing manager, Vanuatu Tourism Office, the feedback was that meetings during the tourism forum were valuable for buyers and sellers. He says a frequent comment was that tourism in Vanuatu is on the rise from many countries.

This year’s Tok Tok was one of the most crucial in the event’s history, according to the destination’s travel industry leaders. Following on from flight cancellations blamed on the state of the airport and lingering memories of Cyclone Pam, tourism spokespeople say it is more important than ever to get a positive message through to the trade and consumers.