Tourism Fiji, in collaboration with Fiji Airways, recently hosted its first in-person industry talanoa session for Coral Coast tourism operators since the reopening of Fiji’s borders post-COVID. This significant gathering took place at the Warwick Fiji Resort and brought together around 30 partners from the Coral Coast region, including representatives from Pacific Harbour, along with key international trade officials from Australia and New Zealand.
The session aimed to foster open dialogue about the challenges currently impacting the Coral Coast tourism sector and explore collaborative strategies for sustainable growth. Tourism Fiji emphasized the importance of addressing visitor arrival patterns, which are beginning to stabilize across key markets. Specifically, the discussions highlighted the issue of seasonality, focusing on the return of shoulder and low seasons and the need for coordinated tactical campaigns to drive demand during these times.
Operators and trade partners engaged in exploring ways to enhance global visibility while aligning product offerings with market demands, ultimately reinforcing the Coral Coast’s overall value proposition. Dr. Paresh Pant, CEO of Tourism Fiji, emphasized the significance of these talanoa sessions in grounding the national tourism strategy in the realities faced by industry stakeholders.
“These talanoa sessions allow us to listen directly to our industry partners, understand the challenges they are facing on the ground and work together on practical solutions,” Dr. Pant stated. He underscored the necessity of collaboration as market conditions stabilize, particularly concerning well-planned campaigns to address seasonality and support the long-term sustainability of Fiji’s tourism sector.
The insights gained from this gathering are expected to inform future marketing strategies and initiatives designed to stimulate demand while promoting sustainable and well-distributed tourism growth throughout Fiji. The attendance of key industry figures, including regional directors, chief marketing officers, and representatives from travel agencies such as Fusion Holidays, Ignite Travel, and House of Travel, underscores the collective effort to revitalize the tourism industry in the Coral Coast region.