Fiji tourism looks to India, China
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka’s busy schedule last week included a brief meeting with Indian actress, Rakul Preet Singh and her new husband, film producer Jackky Bhagnani. The couple were in Fiji for
Tourism
Spartan Fiji aims to double participants, economic impact in 2024
Spartan Race CEO Russell Nelms hopes to double the number of people participating in the Fiji event this year, and its value to the local economy. Russell Helms says the event injected FJ$6.2 million into the economy in
Palau tourism rebounds, aims for Pre-Pandemic levels by year’s end
Palau’s tourism industry is experiencing a significant comeback, with visitor arrivals steadily increasing throughout 2023 and into 2024. Total arrivals in 2023 surpassed 42,000, reaching nearly 45 percent of
HK Airlines resumes Saipan service; hotel group ‘ecstatic’ about the return of Chinese tourists
After a four-year hiatus, Hong Kong Airlines will resume direct flights between Hong Kong and Saipan this weekend, foretelling the resurgence of the China market in the Northern Marianas. The Hotel Association of
Protecting tourism’s biggest drawcard
Pacific Island nations have joined a landmark collaboration aimed at ensuring marine-based tourism adds to, rather than undermines, conservation efforts. The initiative to develop Pacific Marine Tourism Guidelines and
Air Niugini to suspend weekly Palau flights
Air Niugini has advised customers that the airline’s weekly services from Brisbane to Palau via Port Moresby will be suspended, effective 01 May 2024. This service commenced in February 2023 supported by the
Niue’s twice weekly flights have resumed
The twice weekly flights to Niue resumed last week on Monday, 01 April. Niue Tourism Advisor, Hayden Porter says they double their capacity numbers with the increased flights and is the highest they have seen in the
China Southern Airlines to increase flights to PNG
China Southern Airlines is considering the possibility of increasing the number of its flights to PNG. Last December, the Chinese airline company landed for the first time in PNG opening a direct route between
Fiji tourism business briefs: Rydges, latest projections
EVT will operate new Rydges Resort The future Rydges Wailoaloa being developed by owners Hari Punja & Sons at Wailoaloa Beach is expected to open in late 2026, approvals and construction permitting. When it is
Nauru Airlines upgrades its fleet
Nauru Airlines has upgraded its fleet with a new 189-seat passenger aircraft. The blessing of the aircraft took place last week at the airline’s hangar in Brisbane, conducted by Rev David Deluckner, who is also a
Fiji Business Briefs: Visa pilot, Rosie goes electric, more hotels, FHL results
Fiji to pilot outsourcing of some passport and visa services Fiji’s Cabinet has given green light for the piloting of outsourcing of some passport and visa services. The initiative will establish application centres
Fiji tourism industry celebrates leaders and innovators at annual awards
The Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa sparkled with glamour and excitement as the venue of the 2023 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards on Saturday night. The event, attended by 700 tourism operators and
ANT Bicycles Tonga: The first bicycle rental shop in the Kingdom
Visitors to Tonga have a new way of exploring Tongatapu thanks to Alamoni and Taniela Takeifanga. They are the proud owners of ANT Bicycles Tonga, the first family-owned bicycle rental business in the heart of
Fiji Business Briefs: Fiji Airways charter, Kontiki results
Fiji Airways defends Israel charter flight arrangements Fiji Airways says it has adhered to ethical business practices in the running of last year’s charter flights to Israel, but has admitted the charterer has missed
U.S. to end CNMI’s visa-waiver programme for Chinese travellers
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed the prescreening of Chinese travellers before coming to the CNMI as part of a transition plan leading to the eventual termination of the visa waiver programme for
The 2024 Pacific Forecast: A Turn for the Worse?
It’s 2024. Heading towards the halfway mark of this decade, the Pacific’s landscape is vastly different from four years ago, gripped in a steadily escalating set of challenges that may well define what the next
SPTE 2024: A Pacific Gateway to Global Markets
Calling all tourism-related professionals from the Pacific, brace yourself for an unparalleled opportunity that will transform your travel business! The South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) 2024, organised by the
A solution that goes back to “Meritous Earth”
It’s a fact. Plastic straws are harmful to the environment, and awareness over the harm they cause has been described as a “lightbulb moment” for the move away from single-use plastics. Terra Merita has an
Pacific faces new battle: plastic addiction
It’s a familiar story. While Pacific negotiators recently emerged disappointed but resolute over the result of the climate change negotiations in Dubai, they are also engaged on a new front; a treaty to govern the
Hotel groups want unique visa for Chinese tourists
The two largest businesses groups in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) are pleading for the administration of Governor Arnold I. Palacios and other local officials to support the creation and implementation
Fiji Business Briefs: ANZ survey, Drua sponsorship deal, Raine & Horne reopens
ANZ business survey: Turnover up, profitability down ANZ’s Fiji Business Survey for Q3 2023 has reported a positive upturn in turnover, with 42% of surveyed firms noting higher demand compared to the previous quarter.
Samoa wanted Chinese tourists – it got a dreamer and grifters instead
When the first direct tourist flight from China to Samoa landed in the Pacific Island country in late May, it was the culmination of years of effort to tap into the potentially lucrative Chinese market. Top Samoan