By AJESH RAJ

It’s not just Air Pacific’s new Boeing 747-400 service has been launched into the Hong Kong/China travel market.
To coincide with the start yesterday of the upgraded Nadi-Hong Kong return service – replacing the smaller Boeing 767-300 aircraft  – Air Pacific and Tourism Fiji jointly launched www.discoverfiji.hk.
This website is described as a joint venture of Air Pacific and Tourism Fiji designed to provide an effective and user-friendly all-inclusive know-how Hong Kong platform offering about Fiji.
Cherie Lau, the public relations and marketing consultant for Air Pacific and Tourism Fiji, explained this in Hong Kong as the Boeing 747-400 service and website were detailed at a press conference:
“Everything from how to get there, general country information, travel tips, places to stay, eat and see, activities, hotel info and the unique Fijian experiences can be found on this website.
“This website is the one-stop communication tool Chinese visitors need to plan, book and find their way to Fiji.
“The website consists of a ‘plan your trip’ function; a suggested itinerary which will demonstrate how to fully utilise your holiday to relax and enjoy true Fiji hospitality, by choosing your areas of interest, location and type of accommodation.
“And if you’re tempted to share what you see of paradise with friends and family, numerous downloadable options are available for e-postcards and wallpapers depicting beautifully-captured Fijian scenery – a piece of paradise right on your fingertip.
“The ‘Fiji Fun’ feature on the website provides a platform for ongoing promotions offering fun and jetso to Fiji fans. Link to the ‘Discover Fiji’ Facebook page, share your wonderful experiences, exchange ideas and travel trips and recollect fine memories.”
Air Pacific upgraded its Fiji to Hong Kong service to Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet services on Thursdays and Saturdays in recognition of its commitment to a growing Hong Kong and China market.
Air Pacific’s flights will now depart Nadi, Fiji at 9:30am, arriving into Hong Kong at 2:50pm. They will depart Hong Kong at 4:30pm the same day, returning to Nadi at 7:40am the next day.
The Boeing 747-400 has 28 Business (Tabua) class and 430 economy (Pacific Voyager) class seats. This means a 22 per cent increase in seats on this route. Air Pacific launched its Nadi – Hong Kong direct flight in December 2009.
It had a code-share relationship on this route with the Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific. To support additional expansion in China, Air Pacific has also set-up a new office in Hong Kong.
This is to manage strategic marketing and sales partnerships in Hong Kong, China and South-east Asia.