Samoa Tourism Promotion at JATA 2005
Samoa looked promising as another tourist destination for the Japanese outbound travelers in the near future, after Samoa Tourism Authority and some members of its tourism industry for the first time, attended the recent Japanese Association of Travel Agents 2005 Fair held in Tokyo, Japan from 22 to 24 September 2005. The JATA Fair is an annual event that attracts not only hundreds of the Japanese travel agents, wholesalers and operators, but it is also a forum in which most overseas tourism organizations and businesses come to promote their products and services, as well as destinations to these Japanese “intermediaries” with the main aim of attracting more Japanese visitors onto their shores. According to Sala Pio Tagiilima, Manager Marketing & Promotions of Samoa Tourism Authority, “Japan is another emerging tourist market for the Pacific region, and the participation of seven local tourism operators including STA at JATA 2005, was an excellent opportunity for Samoa tourism industry to all come together and present what it has to offer as a new tourist destination to the Japanese buyers. It really made a big impact on the exposure of Samoa in the Japanese market, than it would have been, by going alone, as most local participants had combined their resources and shared costs in promoting their individual businesses at this Fair”. The participation of STA and the local tourism operators at JATA 2005, was made possible with the great assistance provided by JICA, which helped financing the set up and decoration of the display booth and organizing seminars at JATA, DVDs, sales kits and sending of these materials from Samoa to Japan, as well as financing travel to this event for Mr Katsumi Ono, a JICA senior volunteer, currently attached to Samoa Tourism Authority. Other assistance was provided by the New Zealand Government under their Marketing Support Funds for the private sector, as well as the assistance by Air Pacific through discounted airfares, which all enabled the local operators to attend this year’s JATA. The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Hans Joachim Keil showed his great appreciation of this assistance and had expressed his sincere gratitude to JICA, the New Zealand Government, and Air Pacific for all what they had done, especially with the tourism promotion at JATA 2005. “I hope that our participation at JATA 2005, had been a successful first attempt to lure the Japanese travellers to our shores in the near future, and therefore, on behalf of the Government of Samoa, I would like to thank JICA, the New Zealand Government and Air Pacific in particular, for their assistance which enabled STA and some industry members to attend JATA 2005” said Mr Keil. Representatives from Aggie Grey’s Lagoon, Beach Resort & Spa, Hotel Insel Fehmarn, Island Hopper Vacations, Pacific International Travel & Tours, Hotel Kitano, Oceania Travel & Tours and Samoa Tourism Authority attended this major event in Japan, and the industry plans are now underway for promotional campaigns in the year 2006, to target the Japanese market, including the industry participation at the next year’s JATA. (Source: Samoa Tourism Authority Press Release 22/12/2005)

French Pacific Destinations in Revamp Exercise to Lure More Tourists
French Pacific countries are this week taking decisive steps to overhaul their respective tourism industry promotion offices and have both adopted a more unified stance to promote their destinations. In French Polynesia, the local legislative assembly on Thursday endorsed the official merger of the two existing promotional agencies, GIE Tahiti Tourisme and the Tahiti Manava Visitors’ Bureau, tourism minister Jacqui Drollet said in a release. The remaining entity will be Tahiti Tourisme. It will also be assigned with new missions, including that of developing new, more diversities products and packages for overseas markets. Drollet said the merger idea had been in the pipeline for some years now. The main advantages, he said, were economies of scale, but also to pool resources in terms of promotions on overseas source markets to the “Tahiti and Her islands” destination. This also could apply to training of local stakeholders in order to improve the quality of the service. Both agencies’ boards now have to officially endorse the merger, before year-end. For the past few months, French Polynesia has embarked in a campaign to seriously revamp its ailing tourism industry, which has stagnated for the past few years. Speaking at the opening of a recent weeklong seminar on tourism, French Polynesia’s Vice-President Jacqui Drollet said this year’s objectives were to seriously revamp the ailing industry, which has not registered any increase in tourist arrivals for the past three years. The focus, he said, was to better promote French Polynesia on overseas markets. Drollet said his intention was apply and ‘adapt’ recipes he found during a recent trip to three leading Pacific destinations: Hawaii, New Zealand and Fiji. This also involved, he said, luring more tourism stakeholders to invest in French Polynesia. The objective was also to reach a yearly 300,000 visitors with local visitors bureau, the GIE Tahiti Tourisme, now playing a pivotal and centralising role in every tourism-related action. The new gimmick for Destination Tahiti would be "Tahiti, 100% hospitality", Drollet revealed. ‘This encompasses our traditional and cultural values of sharing, and it is those that we now want to bring to the fore’, he told stakeholders. (Source: Oceania Flash News 18/12/2005)

Japan, Solomon Islands Strengthen Ties via Airport Runaway Project
The safety of both domestic and international air travelers in and out of Honiara has been drastically improved with the completion of the Honiara International Airport Restoration Project, which was officially handed over to the Solomon Islands government earlier this week. The airport restoration project is reported to have cost the Japanese government more than US$7 million since 2000. It included work on the restoration of the runway pavement and replacement of runway lights. A ceremony attended by the Prime Minster Allan Kemakeza, Solomon Islands Supervising Aviation Minister Alfred Sasako, and the Japanese Charge de'Affaires Katsuhiko Kubo was held at Honiara's international airport on Wednesday. Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza said the completion of this project marks another milestone in the development cooperation and bilateral relations between Solomon Islands and Japan.  The project is poised to improve Solomon Islands' tourism industry, the minister added. Kamekeza commended the high quality of work carried out by the Pacific Consultants International and Kitano Construction in planning, construction and successful completion of the Project. Meanwhile, Japanese Charge de’Affaires in Solomon Islands, Katsuhiko Kubo, said the relationship between his country and Solomon Islands has grown over time and “it is with projects such as this that shows how committed the people of Japan are towards this friendship.” According to him, the Honiara International Airport was the first return of grant aid to the Solomon Islands since 2000. Supervising Minister for Civil Aviation Alfred Sasako, the airport restoration project will ensure safety and comfortable traveling for passengers. He thanked Kitano Construction Company on behalf of the government and its people “for a job well done.” The minister also said he is optimistic that the Japanese government will assist Solomon Islands construct a new control tower to replace the current dilapidated building. According to him, a team of experts from Japan will make an audit of the project in March next year to make sure deficiencies on the runway were rectified. Work on the project started in June this year. (Source: eTurbo News 16/12/2005)

FVB America’s to Participate in Vancouver Wedding Fair
Fiji Visitors Bureau North America will be participating in the 2006 Vancouver Wedding Fair from the 06th - 08th January 2006. The Vancouver Wedding Fair is Canada's largest and most successful wedding trade show. For more information contact Fiji Visitors Bureau's Regional Marketing Officer, Ms Adeline Erasito on Tel: (310) 568-1616 Fax: (310) 670-2318 or email alee@bulafiji-americas.com (Source: FVB Noqu Dodomo Newsletter 22/12/2005)

Hoteliers Relish Occupancy Rate
Hoteliers in Fiji are pleased with the room occupancy rate this festive season. Most hotels are fully booked this Christmas until early next year. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in his address when opening the $70 million Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Denarau, said the hotel was completely booked out for the entire Christmas and New Year period. Mr Qarase said the hotel had been designed and built to answer a demand by growing numbers of international travellers, for more accommodation and facilities of an extremely high standard. The 296-room hotel estimated to cost about $70million is a joint venture between Colonial Mutual Life Insurance and Air Pacific. Outrigger on the Lagoon general manager Paul Hughes said the occupancy rate was the same every year. "I'm very happy about it, we only have a few spaces before Christmas and a few after," he said. Shangri-La's Fiji Resort sales and marketing officer Elenoa Korovulavula said one of the busiest period for the hotel was after Christmas. "Most tourists had booked for after December 26 and would stay until early 2006," she said. Ms Korovulavula said most of the tourists would come from Australia and New Zealand. Mr Hughes has wished all those tourists who would be in Fiji this festive season a happy and safe holidays. (Source: Fiji Times 19/12/2005)

Seasons Greetings!
The Management and Staff of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) would like to wish everyone the very best for a Christmas that’s filled with happy memories and a New Year of special joy. We look forward to your support and continuous interest in the SPTO Weekly Newsletters as we move on towards a bigger and brighter future.

Ozeania Reisen AG Update
Bruno & Ursula Boeckli, present owners and founders of Ozeania Reisen AG, have released the official statement today that Clare Walker, long-standing member of the Management has acquired the majority of the shares of Ozeania Reisen AG in Management Buy-Out. Take over commences 01st January 2006. The specialist for customised travel to Australia, New Zealand, and the Islands of the South Pacific as well as Language Study Travel has been successfully operating with a staff of 17 for the last 16 years in Fislisbach near Baden, Switzerland. Continuity: With this long planned Management Buy-Out Ozeania Reisen AG is securing optimal continuity of the successful company. Minority share holders are Yolanda Herzog (Manager Retail since the founding of Ozeania Reisen AG), Ursula Erne (Teamleader), and Hanny Geiser (Advertising/Marketing). Young and dynamic: Founder and Switzerland’s Down Under pioneer Bruno Boeckli stated “This internal take-over will ensure current and future clients of Ozeania Reisen AG stability, reliability, know-how, and a young and dynamic approach for ozeania’s future ” (Source: Ozeania Reisen AG Press Release 22/12/2005)

Bebe Spa to Open at Outrigger on the Lagoon Resort
Construction on the resort's new dedicated spa facility, the Bebe Spa is now well underway. The spa is being built on the crest of the hill directly behind the resort and it will afford guests Fiji's most spectacular dedicated spa facility. There will be 8 treatment rooms (including a beauty salon) all with sweeping ocean views. With in the spa facility there will be a wedding chapel and Fiji's most spectacular bar. The views from the Bebe Spa are breath taking - 30 kms vistas overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean. The completion date for the project is late July / early August 2006. For further information contact Sales Manager, Mitimiti Dreunimisimisi on Tel: (679)6509903 Fax:6500420 or email: mitimiti.dreunimisimisi@outriggerfiji.com.fj (Source: FVB Noqu Dodomo Newsletter 22/12/2005)

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Giving the Star Treatment
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is rolling out the red carpet and providing the star treatment when it re-brands the Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort to The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa opening in April, 2006. As part of the $22 million enhancement program, the hotel will offer a deluxe beachfront suite for honeymooners. The one-bedroom suite, with its Westin Heavenly Bed, will feature a spacious living area with pantry, a luxurious sofa, a cozy set of armchairs, a dining room and complete entertainment center highlighting a flat screen TV, Bose home theater with DVD player and surround sound system. Honeymooners relish in their own private balcony where they can sip a cocktail and watch the sun set. To add splendor to a perfect day in the South Pacific, the hotel's in-room candlelight gourmet dinner is so delectable, couples will not want to leave the room! For further information contact: Ms Linawaty Ko, Marketing Communications Manager on Tel: (679) 6750 777 Fax: (679) 6750588 or email: linawaty.ko@sheraton.com (Source: FVB Noqu Dodomo Newsletter 22/12/2005)

Pacific Blue Wings On
With just over a year since beginning its operations in Fiji, Pacific Blue's capacity for its Fiji routes has doubled. In a PACNEWS report, Virgin Blue's Head of Commercial- International, Karam Chand said that that Pacific Blue, has doubled its capacity to and from Fiji in just over a year of operations. "Pacific Blue has had a remarkable impact on the Fiji tourism industry," Mr Chand said. PACNEWS reported that following the entry of Pacific Blue, the Brisbane - Nadi market has grown by 58 percent and Melbourne - Nadi by 39 percent. "The largest market segment, Sydney - Nadi, has grown by 16 percent since Pacific Blue entered the market only three months ago." "The release of the results came as Pacific Blue announced the appointment of Air Fiji as its General Sales Agent in Fiji," Mr Chand said in the report. "We're extremely pleased that Air Fiji has agreed to work with us as our General Sales Agent in Fiji". "Fiji is one of our most important international markets and we are pleased to be able to expand our commitment to this market through our association with such a high profile partner" The report stated that Air Fiji CEO, Sialeni Vuetaki welcomed the new arrangements. "Air Fiji is very pleased to be associated with a world renowned airline," he said. "The opportunity to represent Pacific Blue in Fiji has come at a time when Air Fiji has begun spreading its services to the Pacific region". Mr Chand said that with Air Fiji offices located all over Fiji, they would be able to transport international visitors to Fiji behind the traditional gateway airports. (Source: Fiji Times 23/12/2005)

Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s Wedding Package
Fiji's newest resort, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa is offering a new wedding package in celebration of their first resort in Fiji. The package highlights use of the resort's wedding chapel; a civil marriage celebrant; marriage license, tradition wedding fruit cake; bottle of French champagne; gourmet dinner for two in V, the resort's signature restaurant; a professional photographer to capture the special day; a tropical wedding bouquet and floral headpiece for the bride. To cap off the special day, a village choir will serenade the bride and groom before and after the ceremony. For further information contact Business Communications Manager, Ms Jocelyn Foon on Tel: (679) 6751 111 Fax: (679) 6751 122 or Email: H5706_sb03@sofitel.com.fj (Source: FVB Noqu Dodomo Newsletter 22/12/2005)