Two Fiji shows disastrous, admits BFTE

Two Fiji shows disastrous, admits BFTE
By admin


The organisers of Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange (BFTE) have hit back at Tourism Fiji over the launch of a second trade show as tensions between the two parties continue to rise.

David Voss, chairman of the BFTE committee, admitted two shows are “disastrous” and hinted it may relocate a South Pacific event to Tahiti.

He also rejected accusations from Tourism Fiji chief executive Rick Hamilton that BFTE was too expensive with inflexible booth sizes that deterred international buyers.

The rift, which began when Tourism Fiji objected to the participation of other Pacific islands at BFTE, culminated in the tourism agency announcing the launch of a rival trade show to be held three weeks before Voss’ event.

“I agree that two shows are disastrous but Tourism Fiji have come in and expect us to close down,” Voss told Travel Today in an email. “However, we have a large response to hold a South Pacific event which may be our option and hold it in say Tahiti which would make it very expensive for Fiji participation.”

He said “things have been said which are not factual”, and claimed BFTE is a Trust and not a profit-making venture.

All accommodation for buyers and booth costs are paid for by BFTE, Voss said, with Tourism Fiji receiving two booths free of charge. Any surplus money is handed to local tourism groups to help with marketing, while Fiji’s Tourism Action Group has also benefitted, he added.

Responding to criticism that booth sizes are inflexible with sellers "confined to a 2×2 booth", Voss said the 2013 event was the first held indoors where space was restricted.

“What do you do? Put large booths out and cut participants down or give as many sellers a chance to be there?”, he said.

Hamilton told Travel Today last week that Voss had been unwilling to “engage” with him over the thorny trade show issue. But Voss said it was Hamilton who refused to meet unless other Pacific Islands were barred from BFTE.

“He [Hamilton] has made it clear that he will not meet unless we agree to omit the other Pacific Islands from BFTE,” Voss said. “We feel that buyers come to our event to meet not just Fiji but other destinations.

“Other points they fail to see is that Fiji Airways is the predominant airline supplying these islands with tourists.

“Our Prime Minister has also spent a considerable amount of time working to get the Pacific Islands to work together and now Tourism Fiji wants to exclude the other islands.”

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