12 May 2009

Fiji Tourism hopes new resort will tap into new markets

9:48 pm on 12 May 2009

Fiji's Tourism office hopes that the opening of the Natadola Bay Resort will help open up new markets for visitors.

At present the multi million dollar development has opened with over a hundred rooms ready for occupancy and a championship golf course.

But the industry is already struggling to attract tourists due to the global financial crisis and the political instability at home.

However, the chairman of Fiji Tourism, Patrick Wong, says the hotel brand name will attract new business:

"As you know it is an internationally recognised brand, The Intercontinental, which would boost the tourism in Fiji, it opens up doors for us in certain emerging markets for us."

The chairman of Fiji Tourism, Patrick Wong.

Questions are still being asked about the funding of the resort by Fiji's retirement fund for public servants, the Fiji National Provident Fund.