Nadi-based tourism leader Rosie Holidays, continues to make its mark in what will be another “Fiji first”.

It has just announced plans to operate charter flights from both Beijing and Shanghai to Nadi during the Chinese New Year in February 2016.

The charters will be done in partnership with Fiji Airways, similar to the company’s trailblazing charter services this year from Shanghai to Nadi.

Fiji’s Ambassador to China, Ioane Naivalurua, was the Chief Guest at the launch event announcing the charters held at the W Beijing – Chang’an Hotel yesterday.

The launch titled “Go Fiji.  Find Happiness” comes on the heels of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s recent visit to China.

Mr Naivalurua said:  “The Fijian Government commends Rosie Holidays, a Fijian family business, for again taking the bold initiative to fly into two cities in the heart of China.

“Beijing is the political capital of China, and Shanghai is the business capital, and both these cities will deliver an affluent Chinese traveller, eager to spend and experience a new and beautiful South Pacific destination like Fiji.”

To coincide with the February 2016 Chinese New Year celebrations, Rosie Holidays will be using Fiji Airways to send four charter flights using the new A330-300 on the Beijing-Nadi service and the A330-200 from Shanghai.

The four charter flights will deliver in February 2016 a total of 1100 new Chinese visitors to Fiji. This will be more than double the 500 tourists who visited Fiji as part of Rosie Holidays’ initial two charter flights out of China this year.

Rosie Holidays’ foray into charter flights from China was spearheaded by its general manager Eroni Puamau. He was assisted by his sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, as well as Rosie’s key Tour Wholesaler partners in China.

Mr Puamau said: “We are excited to be initiating another charter service in 2016. This time we will have two cities. Beijing is the capital and political heart of China.

“And with Shanghai, they are both very large cities with affluent travellers.

“New Year is a busy time for Chinese outbound and we have finalised the slots at both terminals with land and air packages being released to the market this week for sale.”

Important milestone

Mr Puamau said the Beijing and Shanghai to Nadi non-stop service, is an important milestone in Fiji’s tourism history.

He said it has only been achieved because of a strategic partnership between Rosie Holidays and its China partners, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways and the Fijian Government.

The February charters have also been welcomed by Fiji Tourism chairman, Truman Bradley.

“The timing is significant because February is ‘low season’ for Fiji tourism, yet high season for China,” Mr Bradley said.

“The initiative by Rosie Holidays is commendable because it will not only generate more traffic at a time when Fiji needs the visitors, but fly our flag in a country with enormous tourism and trade opportunities.”

Developing the market

For Fiji Airways, the four charter flights by Rosie Holidays seals the in-bound travel company as a loyal and committed joint partner in developing the China market.

Fiji Airways Executive general manager Sales & Marketing, Otto Gergye, stated:  “When Rosie’s initiated the inaugural charter services out of Shanghai to Nadi in February this year, it was an interesting experiment.

“We were delighted that both flights were sold out and were only too happy to support their desire to do it again in 2016 in an even bigger way.

“Beijing is a long flight and we will be using our new A330-300 that we are taking delivery of this December on this route.”

Rosie Holidays managing director, Tony Whitton, said: “We recently celebrated 160 years of the Chinese community living in Fiji and their contribution to our economy.  “This partnership continues via our charter operation, to deliver more Mainland Chinese visitors to Fiji.

“More visitors. More Trade. More jobs.  More foreign exchange earnings.  And diversification to ensure our base of tourism has a good spread.”

The launch in Beijing will promote special packages including stays at Fiji’s major four and five-star hotels in the Yasawas and Mamanucas and on Denarau and along the Coral Coast.

About the group

The Rosie Travel Group operates many award-winning brands, including Rosie Holidays, Thrifty Car Rentals (Fiji) and Ahura Resorts, operators of Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort.

The company operates a diverse portfolio of tourism investments, including transportation, inbound tourism, retail travel, overseas wholesaling and hotel resort ownership and development.

The company is 100 per cent Fijian owned and the group provides employment to over 600 people.

Feedback:  rachnal@fijisun.com.fj