2 Dec 2014

Tourism Fiji told to promote Fijians

9:40 pm on 2 December 2014

The leader of an opposition party in Fiji says he is concerned Tourism Fiji is not promoting Fijians.

Biman Prasad of the National Federation Party says he welcomes the $12 million US dollars the government has allocated to Tourism Fiji in the budget.

Since May, the board of Tourism Fiji has received the resignations of the CEO, Rick Hamilton, the Permanent Secretary, Elizabeth Powell, and the Chairman of the Board and Fiji Airways CEO, Stefan Pichler, and this week, Ken Freer, the head of Global Marketing and Acting CEO.

Mr Prasad says the current stage is a chance to promote Fijians.

"Since 2011, Tourism Fiji has seen three CEOs, and they're looking for a fourth one - I'm told the acting one has resigned too. Government wants to promote Fiji products. Fiji itself is a Fiji product. We must promote Fiji with Fijians. I'm told that some expatriates representing us in our marketing office cannot even say bula properly."

Biman Prasad says his party thinks visitor arrivals are not growing as projected.