A report in the Fiji Times says that the lifting of the Public Safety Regulations did nothing to boost airline ticket sales or bookings, according to Air Pacific managing director John Campbell.
Such changes would take time for travellers to absorb, he said, with the regulation removed about two weeks go after much pressure from the tourism industry and international community.
“We have not seen any response from locals or tourists since the lifting of the public emergency regulations,” said Mr Campbell, adding, “Given the downgrading of the Australian Government’s travel advisory, markets typically take a few weeks to absorb.”
“And while we can eexpect more positive results it will take time for these to come to fruition.”
Mr Campbell said the national carrier would have to complement the changes to travel advisories and lifting of the emergency regulations with a great deal of marketing activity involving the Fiji Visitors Bureau, airlines and hotels in Fiji before they could see a full recovery of tourism inflow or resident outflow.
Last week, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs changed its advisory from level 3 to level 2 after the lifting of the emergency regulations by the interim Government.
FVB chief executive Viliame Gavoka welcomed the move by Australia and said it would restore the confidence of the Australian tourist market.
Mr Gavoka said there was still a lot of work to be done to restore Fiji’s tourism arrival figures which had slumped after the change in government.
Report by The Mole
