SP tourism

War could boost SP tourism

THE South Pacific could benefit from the Gulf War, by attracting visitors who had previously planned to go to Europe or the United States.

Vice president of the Pacific Asian Travel Association (PATA), lan Ken nedy, said the Pacific and Australasia were perceived by travellers as less of a terrorist risk. These areas had experi enced less ofa downturn than other parts of the world.

Fiji’s new horizon THE theme for the 1991 Fiji Tourism Convention has been set as “The New Horizon”. The director of the Tourism Council of the South Pacific (TCSP), Malakai Gucake, said the theme sug gested the need to look forward to new developments. However, Gucake also said the council had introduced a heavy environmental emphasis for 1991.

Convention topics will include the environmental aspect, the role Japan can play in tourism in Fiji and the South Pacific, and whether Fiji can expect more international carriers to operate through the country. It will be held onjune 13-15 at the Sheraton Fiji Resort.

Niue sets a target NIUE will be attracting 5000 visitors a year within five years, according to Niue Airlines owner, Ray Young.

Young said Niue would be developed as a speciality market, promoting its natural resources such as rock pools and volcanic caves. The Government sees the privately owned airline and the government-owned Niue Hotel as crucial to this. The hotel is still being renovated after Cyclone Ofa, but the lease is being advertised in New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific Islands.

Young said a second hotel with an international golf course would follow.

More than 20 applications for small motel/hotel licences had also been lodged. Niue Airlines flies weekly from Auckland with Solomon Airlines’ 737.

Aid kicks off project THE first stage of a tourism development designed to generate money for land owners while maintaining the natural environment has opened on Taveuni in Fiji. The first stage of the project, the Taveuni Forest Park, was funded by a New Zealand government aid package of 560,000. It consists of huts around the Tavoro Waterfalls, barbecue and picnic facilities and a safe swimming area.

Vanuatu Festival help VANUATU’S second National Arts Festival is on schedule following an appeal by committee chairman, Joe Joseph. Joseph told Radio Vanuatu the festival would be cancelled because the government had not responded to their appeals for funds late last year. However, the government has given USS 14,000 to the festival committee toward staging the show in Lougainville in May.

Tonga set for boom THE island kingdom of Tonga is gearing up for a tourism boom this year.

The Tourism Authority expects more tourist boats to call into its ports this year than the Far East and Asia due to the Gulf War. The first cruise liner, the Royal Waikiki-Sun, arrived in Nukualofa with more than 1000 tourists on February 6.

Bond on tickets HAWAII Air’s travel agents in teh South Pacific have been asked to post a bond of U 5525,000 as of January 31.

According to The Samoa News the travel industry there and the Pago Pago Visitors Association feared this could put local travel agencies out of business. A Hawaiian airline’s representative in Pago Pago said the move was to protect its ticket stocks. Local travel agents have in the past been able to obtain tickets without paying cash in advance.

Boost for Honiara SOLOMON Islands’ new air link with Cairns next March will open new development opportunities in the tour ism, culture and commercial sectors, according to an Australian travel agent.

Steve Noakes said that North Queens land holidaymakers would be encour aged to travel to the Solomon islands, and commercial development would be boosted through business links. Solomon airlines’ Boeing 737 jet aircraft will begin a new semi-circle route from Cairns to Honiara, Port Vila, Nadi and Auckland, on March 5. □