Rosie Travel Group says business is contracting as they feel the impact of coronavirus on global travel plans.

Managing director Tony Whitton said, “What it really means from the industry perspective is there needs to be a six-month plan in place as a stabilising strategy.“

Pay cut

All executive management have taken a 10 per cent pay cut effective immediately with remaining staff taking one day unpaid leave every week.“

Some companies have started the same idea while some resorts and hotels are now working on a four-day week.

“I know every company was having their own strategies but at Rosie’s ours is a six-month plan.”

Mr Whitton said the last thing any employer would want to do was send workers home. “We have to sacrifice in some way to ensure that this happens –everyone has a job.”

Strategy

“The short term strategy now is to bring visitors from Australia and New Zealand.”

Mr Whitton said Fiji Airways, hotels and resorts had planned to allow clients out of Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America to make bookings and ensure they could amend booking dates without having to pay additional fees linked to cancellation or amendments.

He said the campaign involved Fiji Airways, Tourism Fiji and theSociety of Fiji Travel Associates (SOFTA).

“There is a two prong approach – one is companies are taking their own measures to be able to cushion the effect of the coronavirus and manage costs and the other is the need to keep stimulating the markets.

“The Easter season is coming up in April and this will be interesting how that pans out.

“Companies are taking their own measures to be able to cushion the effect of the coronavirus and manage costs and the other is the need to keep stimulating the markets.

“The key three markets now are Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.

“The Easter season is coming up in April and this will be interesting how that pans out.”

Mr Whitton said everyone should understand that the next six months would be tough.

“Things are going to get worse before it gets better.

“There has got to be some sacrifice from everyone but this is a crisis.

“Some towns you go to people don’t seem worried but there will be a flow-on effect to every single Fijian family.

“This is because of business that are connected directly or indirectly to the industry and here we are talking for example about people who supply fish or produce to the hotels.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj