The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya says that unsubstantiated claims are being made by the Opposition that there are no new players in the tourism industry.
Koya highlighted this during the 2017-2018 national budget debate.
He says the number of registered Service Turnover Tax payers Fiji wide has increased from 1,008 in 2013 to 1,836 in 2017.
Koya says from 2015 to June 2017, a total of 684 new Service Turnover Tax payers have been registered.
He says that Viliame Gavoka’s statement on tourism has no new ideas on taking tourism forward and is misleading the tourism sector.
He says Tourism Fiji’s marketing budget of $33.1 million, which is a $5.5 million increase, will help increase tourism activities through market development strategies aimed at increasing returns on government investments.
Koya says Tourism Fiji will review the national branding strategy to revitalise and position Fiji more effectively in the competitive global arena.
The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism says for the first time in our nation's history, they will be opening a Trade Commission in Auckland, New Zealand with an allocation of $0.4 million made for the establishment of the Trade Commission.
Koya says trade and investment missions are important to raising Fiji's profile as an ideal investment destination and securing new markets.
