Biz News Flash

South Pacific countries eye Chinese tourism market

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-02 16:29

SUVA - The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) and Tourism Fiji are collaborating with Air Pacific in commissioning the China Central Television (CCTV) to undertake a TV documentary program on Fiji's tourism attractions for the Chinese and other Asian markets.

SPTO said on Wednesday that they initiated a series of negotiations with the CCTV officials at the Shanghai World Expo and secured the commitment of the China's national television station to send a team of crew to undertake the project in the Pacific.

CEO SPTO Ilisoni Vuidreketi said the primary objective of the CCTV documentary is to establish and promote Fiji brand names in China, as an important emerging tourist market for Pacific Island destinations.

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"This initiative will create an excellent platform for some follow up tactical marketing initiatives for Fiji and the South Pacific region during the Shanghai World Expo which ends in October, 2010 said Vuidreketi.

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto commended the initiative that would feature Fiji prominently and boost tourism attraction from the Chinese population.

"Our promotional efforts at the Shanghai World Expo's Pacific Pavilion needs aggressive follow up marketing campaigns as we strategise toward realizing early conversions of Chinese consumer interest to actual travels," he said.

The current Air Pacific direct flight from Nadi to Hong Kong is crucial to these campaigns in developing Chinese market for the South Pacific region.