Tourism stakeholders concerned

A report in Fijilive says that Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau CEO Bill Gavoka says the impact on tourism following the expulsion of the New Zealand High Commissioner from Fiji is still being assessed, adding, “We are obviously very concerned, New Zealand being our second biggest (tourism) market”.

“We hope it is only something between Suva and Wellington and it won’t affect our relationship between the people of Fiji and New Zealand,” he added.

On Thursday, Fiji declared New Zealand High Commissioner Michael persona non grata saying he (Green) was interfering in the internal affairs of the country and he has been given four days to leave the country.

The expulsion has raised fears of possible repercussions on tourism (Fiji’s main foreign exchange earner) and on trade.

Since the December coup, tourist numbers have declined, more so from Fiji’s main tourism markets of Australia and New Zealand, particularly with strong travel advisories put in place against Fiji by the two countries.

But Gavoka believes the strong factor in Fiji’s favour is the fact that no tourist has been harmed in the country in the past six months (since the December 5 military coup), adding, “This is very strong in our favour”.

“We hope that they (New Zealand tourists) continue to come but like I said we are assessing the situation.”

The bureau says it also is reviewing the promotions it had been planning to run on television in New Zealand.

“We will see how it goes over the next few days, and we will relook at some of the promotion campaigns that we have with our partners in NZ.”

Gavoka says some promotions were being run on print and radio.

“A lot of it was happening but we were going to go into television in the weekends and we are reviewing that right now.

“This thing happened yesterday, we have to get the feel of the perception about Fiji, get a feel of it before you run a campaign like that.”

For his part, Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto says the expulsion came as a great surprise and he hopes there won’t be any repercussions or impact on the tourism industry.

He says he is quite happy with New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ comments on that New Zealand will be taking a pragmatic approach to this and that it will not do anything to harm the people of Fiji.

Dixon is hoping that tourists will continue to look at Fiji as a beautiful country, that they will realize that law and order is still in place and that police is still functioning effectively.

But he feels that the hoteliers and the airlines have reduced their rates and tourists will still come to Fiji.

And he says there is no reason to amend the travel advisories that will hurt the people of Fiji, particularly the hotel workers.

Meanwhile, Fiji-New Zealand Business Council president Laurie Mellsop declined to comment on the expulsion of Green and the possible impact on trade between the two countries.

Mellsop says the council is maintaining the position that it had right through from the beginning of the political crisis.

“We believe that these are political matters and that our preference is not to make any official comment on the issues,” he added.

This week, Fiji’s private and public sector will be meeting in seminars on exporting to New Zealand held in Suva and Lautoka.

The seminar that looks at creating awareness on the various requirements, challenges and procedures of exporting to New Zealand, is being organised in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission New Zealand and the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau.

Fiji Exporters Club CEO Chandar Yenkanna also declined to comment saying the organization is apolitical, adding, “Whatever has taken place, we do not want to get involved in that.”  “I don’t want to make any comments.”

Report by The Moel and Fijilive