Vanuatu tourism showcased in Fiji

Despite difficult time faced by tourism industry during the first quarter of 2012, Vanuatu is heading for the better, according to Vanuatu Tourism Office Events, Trade and Market Research Manager, Sebastien Bador.
The assurance from VTO was made as a result of a successful showcasing of Vanuatu by VTO at Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange 2012 staged this year at Port Denerau, Fiji.

“Vanuatu made a significant impression amongst 153 international buyers, but also sellers, during Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange 2012 with our 17 delegates and 9 booths and Vanuatu corner was one of the biggest overseas seller’s delegation,” Bador said in a media release.
“Even though our tourism industry faced a hard time during the first quarter of this year, it was good to see our stakeholders coming in numbers to promote and showcase Vanuatu islands and the wide range of tourism services available. Our delegation included tourism offices, inbound operators, resorts, and smaller independent hotels; it was just a perfect mix. Long haul market always amazed buyers, in particular those from Asian countries who do not know much about Vanuatu. They were amazed by our diversity of accommodations and tours that the country offers,” said Bador.
The VTO Trade and Market Research Manager said notably China had wide representation for the first time in the 2012 Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange annual Tourism Promotion event. For the first too that Russia sent representatives to the major Pacific Tourism promotion annual event.
“BFTE is an important marketing tool principally to attract long haul buyers and Vanuatu made full use of this opportunity,” the VTO Marketing and Research Manager said in statement to local media.

“By maintaining our continued presence at the BFTE, not only we keep relationships with regional wholesalers, but we give confidence to the wholesalers from Asian countries that are repeatedly seeing us. This year I witnessed a change in the past trend with Chinese, Japanese and Korean buyers requesting to have appointments with us. Previously we had to run after them to organize some awareness presentation. This time they were ready to talk about trade, travels agents, training etc. It’s great to see the first results after years of efforts,” Bador said with confident.
Vanuatu representatives at the 2012 BFTE Exchange include Adventures in Paradise, Espiritu Santo Tourism Association, Evergreen Limited, Holiday Inn Resort,Iririki Island Resort, Mangoes Resort and The Terraces,Ratua Private Island, Warwick Le Lagon Resort and Spa.