Faiyaz Siddiq Koya
Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Land and Mineral Resources
FIJI HOTEL & TOURISM ASSOCIATION – HOTEC TRADESHOW 2017
SHERATON FIJI RESORT
Friday, 17 November 2017
DENARAU, NADI
0900 Hours
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Board of Directors;
Members of FHTA;
Sponsors of this year’s HOTEC Tradeshow;
Tourism Industry Stakeholders & Exhibitors;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Bula Vinaka, Cola Vina and very good morning to all of you.
It is indeed a pleasure to be here this morning, to celebrate with you the 14th HOTEC Fiji Tradeshow.
I would like to congratulate the event organisers – Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association for their dedication and commitment towards this annual event.
I would also like to acknowledge all the sponsors, exhibitors and participants, here this morning – without each of you, this event would not be possible, so thank you and vinaka vakalevu for your support and presence here today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
HOTEC has grown over the years, and this year we have 48 trade booths, compared to 38 last year. Through these booths, our diverse tourism products and services are proudly exhibited and displayed to the world.
I have been informed that there are 32 Exhibitors, 27 are locals while 5 are overseas based. To our international exhibitors, Bula and Welcome to Fiji. It is a pleasure having you this year and I do hope you’ll enjoy all that is in store for you. While we exchange ideas and learn from one another this week, we could also just have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Before we continue with today’s program, allow me to share some key achievements of the tourism sector thus far. Tourism’s combined direct and indirect contribution to GDP is averaged at 30 per cent over the last 7 years. The sector employs one in every three Fijians. Last year, the total visitor arrivals stood at 792,320 which was a 5 per cent growth from the previous year.
From January to September alone this year, approximately 622,139 visitors came to Fiji, representing an impressive increase of 6.6 percent over the same period last year.
Visitor earnings of $377.3 million was also exceptional in the first quarter of this year. This saw a 10.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
And with the holiday season fast approaching, coupled with enticing holiday packages offered to our visitors, we are confident that we will receive overall positive growth in our visitor numbers and earnings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
These statistics are a testament to your hard work as industry players and the foresight of the Fijian Government in ensuring the right policies are in place to enable your businesses to prosper. Events such as this provides a platform where operators in the tourism industry meet with suppliers to forge new relations and strengthen existing ones.
Another of such platform, is the Fijian Tourism Talanoa event which will be held here at the Sheraton Resort tomorrow. The ministry in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, had committed to reviving this event to strengthen collaboration amongst all stakeholders and move the industry further.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Coming back to today’s event, there are a variety of new programmes to look forward to and they are the Master Class Fiji Finale, where we will see the best of our female chefs competing against each other, a session on Coffee Culture and of course, the fun part of HOTEC, where we will see our drinks experts come on stage to showcase their skills during the “mixologist training” later in the day.
There are also trainings on Human Resources, Information Technology and Marketing which aims to add-value to your existing skills and I urge you all to make full use of these sessions, whilst at the same time enjoy the fabulous programme lined up throughout the next two days.
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is also encouraging to note that a few Government Ministries including mine, are exhibiting this year. This is your opportunity to enquire on the various programmes and initiatives offered by Government and how you could participate.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish you active discussions and valuable exchanges during the course of the next two days. Confidently strengthen your networks and build business opportunities for win-win outcomes.
With these few words, it gives me great pleasure to declare HOTEC 2017 – open for business!
Thank you and Vinaka vakalevu.