$50m boost

MORE than 1200 sales agents from China who have the potential to attract more than $50 million into the Fijian economy, will arrive in the country on Sunday.

The group will spend six days on an all-expenses-paid holiday — a reward from their employer, Chinese herbal company Infinitus, for being high sales achievers.

Tourism Fiji CEO Matthew Stoeckel lauded the work done by Rosie Holidays in its pioneering efforts to entice Chinese visitors to the country through chartered flights over the past two years and also for marking another first with the arrival of the largest incentive group from China to Fiji.

Travelling in two waves on six chartered and scheduled Fiji Airways and Korean Air flights, the group will be accommodated at Radisson Blu Resort Fiji, Sheraton Fiji Resort & Spa, the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and the Double Tree Sonaisali Resort.

“I am very excited to see the fruition of a concerted industry effort with Rosies in targeting the incentive travel business from China coming through in such a big way,” said Mr Stoeckel.

“The potential for Fiji as an incentive destination is massive and we have the perfect mix of world-class tourism infrastructure matched with the warmth hospitality of the Fijian people that makes Fiji very attractive.”

Rosie Holidays managing director Tony Whitton said one of the biggest pluses for Fiji was that the country was an authentic destination.

“The experiences and interactions with the environment and village communities that we share with our visitors are not manufactured but are real,” he said.

“They create an emotional state of happiness that become rewarding memories for life and in many ways life-changing as well, especially if you come from a country of a billion people with very busy lives.”

Mr Whitton said the arrival of the incentive group next week was perfect timing for the tourism industry and for the economy as a whole.

“This group will inject over $50 million dollars into the Fiji economy, bringing with them much needed foreign currency that will be a big boost to our foreign currency reserves.

“We will be working closely with Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways and key partners to target more of such groups into the shoulder off-peak season for Fiji.”