Fiji’s got funk, kicks tedious conference openings’ butt

Fiji’s got funk, kicks tedious conference openings’ butt

Who says you can’t sing, dance and even rap as part of the official proceedings to kick off a conference? Only in Fiji …

The annual Fijian Tourism Exchange (FTE) kicked off in Denarau this morning drawing its largest audience since the show’s conception two years ago, with 151 international buyers and 368 exhibitors attending marking a 30% growth year-on-year.
FTE Opening 4SM
The three-day show is once again hosted at Denarau Island Convention Centre at Sheraton Fiji Resort, after having moved to an “only Fijian” format in 2014 which was largely regarded as a hit, providing “equal opportunity for all Fijians, catering to suppliers big and small”, Tourism Fiji, executive chairman and acting ceo, Truman Bradley said.

“Going forward Tourism Fiji, ‘team Fiji’, is about working together. This is the epitome of how [Fiji] is as diverse as it is, but can come together in this way. And that’s what shows why we’re so unique in the world,” Bradley said.

Fiji Tourism executive chairman, Truman Bradley

Fiji Tourism executive chairman, Truman Bradley

While the search for a permanent ceo for the tourism board is on the cards, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya told Travel Weekly the focus at hand is on increasing overall arrival figures through new development and infrastructure across the country.

Tourism is cemented as Fiji’s number one industry and provides 34% of the country’s GDP, the second being remittence coming from the large population of expat workers.

Looking to the future, Koya expects the tourism industry is also set to benefit from a fresh crop of educated Fijians entering the work force in the coming 3 to 5 years, with an expected 93% of youth expected to walk away with a minimum of high school level certification.

FTE Opening 3SM

FTE Opening 2SM

FTE Opening 1SM

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