GO...UP & AWAY - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine

ASIA &THE SOUTH PACIFIC NEWS & BEST BUYS
tourist traps. Some (myself included) might balk at the idea of
visiting an “authentic village” on Viti Eco Tours’ trip to Tau
Village or going to Catholic mass for a “typical average Fiji Sunday
experience”—these are lifted straight from my itinerary—
but it is impossible to roll your eyes at the warmth and
sincerity of the people you meet. Even a half-day in any one
place is enough to make you wish you could stay longer, and
that’s before you throw in the seemingly endless possibilities
for world-class diving, surfing, golf and spas. Like the coral
reef that environs them, the Fiji Islands offer clients a chance
to discover the world in macro; up-close and vibrant, with each
new discovery connected to something else and yet somehow
totally unique. Apart from that, there are enough options
to customize trips to suit anyone, and they’re more affordable
than ever.
Driving Home Value
In July, Forbes.com ranked Fiji among the top 15 travel values
for American tourists. In April the Reserve Bank of Fiji
decided to devalue the country’s currency by 20 percent to
boost tourism. At the 2009 Fiji Matai Convention, recently
held at the brand-new Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort &
Spa, Tourism Fiji CEO Jo Taumoto emphasized the need to
create product awareness and drive home the value for
money message in the North American market. Taumoto remains
optimistic in spite of the global financial crisis and a
significant drop in tourism this year. He outlined a plan to effectively
double the number of annual visitors by 2016, saying,
“It took us about 50 years to drive the numbers from
10,000 to about 500,000 visitors. We want to take the next
500,000 in seven years.”
The message being sent by the recent currency devaluation
and the 1 million visitor mark set for 2016 is pretty clear; the
dollar is up, tourism is down, and now is a good time to get to
know Fiji. With the U.S. dollar presently worth $1.89 Fijian, it’s
a message that seems to be catching on. Numbers are down
across the board, but month-to-month progression shows a
marked improvement. After sustaining a 30 percent drop in
tourism revenue through the first six months of this year, the
numbers from this past month rebounded to just 4 percent
shy of those from last year, which saw 66,000 visitors from
the U.S.
Getting There and Getting Around
Air Pacific currently operates 5 days a week from LAX to
Nadi International Airport. The ten and a half hour flight departs
at 10:30 p.m. and arrives just after 5 a.m. the following
day, whereupon Fiji’s regional carrier, Pacific Sun, offers connections
to local airports in the early morning and throughout
the day. Taxis are readily available for short trips (though most
are unmetered), and otherwise Nadi serves as home base for
the vast majority of transfer services like Exclusively Fiji,
Rosie Holidays, and Focus on Fiji Travel. Fiji’s tourism website,
www.fijime.com, features an easy to use and comprehensive
guide to help you and your clients decide how to
spend all of those devalued Fiji dollars, with information on
specific regions, activities, accommodations and packages.
Additional information on ferry transfers to the Mamanuca and
Yasawa island groups is also available.
New Places to Stay
The Fiji Orchid’s six luxurious bures (thatched roof bungalows)
start at FJ$550 per night or FJ$275 for day use. Situated
in the foothills of the volcanic Nausori Highlands on five
acres of tropical gardens once belonging to Raymond Burr,
just 15 minutes from Nadi International airport, The Orchid offers
travelers who are just passing through a serene stopover
while they wait to catch a flight. Features a gourmet restaurant,
pool and massage bure. Visit www.fijiorchid.com
Located 20 minutes from the International airport, Denarau
Island is a popular stop for those coming or going from the
Mamanucas and Yasawas and the largest integrated resort in
the South Pacific. Radisson Resort Fiji is Denarau’s newest
five star beachfront resort, with 270 rooms and suites, the
largest pool complex on the island and their commitment to
offering value for the money is reflected in their dining options
and specials. Visit www.radisson.com/fiji
The brand new Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa features
271 luxuriously appointed rooms and an 18 hole championship
golf course designed by Vijay Singh, ideally located
on a ‘world’s best beach.’ In addition to the five restaurants
and bars, every room comes with a private terrace with a
Cleopatra bath and day bed. Visit www.intercontinental.com
Koro Sun Resort, near Savusavu town on the island of
Vanua Levu, just re-opened in September after some major
renovations. All guests are greeted with a complimentary foot
massage from Mela, the magic behind Koro Sun’s signature
Rainforest Spa, one of Islands Magazine’s ‘Top Island Spas
2009.’ The LEEDs certified, all-inclusive resort is an ideal destination
for romantic getaways, with their own PADI dive center
and 23 bures with a wide range of accommodations,
including the Tree Top Honeymoon Bure and five new villas
built over the Koro Bay lagoon. Visit www.korosunresort.com
Fiji’s New Adventure Capital
Located between Nadi and the capital of Suva, Pacific Harbor
has recently become ground zero for thrill seekers. A gorgeous
two-hour drive from Nadi by private car or a forty
minute flight to the new airport at Taunovo Bay, Pacific Harbor
overlooks Beqa island, home to some of the best diving in Fiji,
as well as the world-class left handed reef break known as
Frigate’s Passage. Pac Harbor is also the place to look for the
best big-game fishing and kite boarding.
There are a number of exciting and diverse accommodation
options to be found here, all bound by a tangible community
feel and an industrious and inventive approach to recreation.
The Uprising Beach Resort is as good as it gets for backpackers
and the young at heart, offering budget (though by no
means shabby) accommodations starting from just $35 per
night in their tree house dormitory and $180 per night beachfront
bures. Uprising has an atmosphere that’s nearly impossible
to describe except to say that it’s worth checking out,
either to gather around a bonfire for a sundowner with the locals
and their very own rugby team, go island hopping on their
Island Jet Ski tour, or just to see what they mean by horseboarding.
Visit www.uprisingbeachresort.com
The Pearl South Pacific Fiji Islands is a luxurious and contemporary
take on the spirit of the South Pacific, centrally located
on one of the longest stretches of beach in Fiji, walking
FEBRUARY 2010 WWW.JAXFAX.COM ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC 53