The chairman of the MSME Council, Watesoni Nata Jr, has expressed concerns regarding the booth space pricing at the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE). He stated that small businesses should not be charged the same rates as larger, multi-million-dollar firms. This comment was made during the Fiji Convention 2024 in Nadi, where he advocated for more strategic marketing support and development opportunities tailored to smaller operators.
Mr. Nata proposed the implementation of a tiered pricing system for businesses attending the FTE, stating, “As small businesses, we believe that we should not be paying the same as multi-million-dollar businesses for a booth space. They can afford to pay more to help lower rates for smaller enterprises.”
In response, Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, acknowledged the insights gained from stakeholders during the Convention. He emphasized the importance of supporting smaller operators, who play a crucial role in the tourism sector. Hill highlighted initiatives from the previous year, where over 50 small businesses were provided with free attendance at the Tourism SuperWeek, alongside sponsorships for additional training programs.
Hill reaffirmed Tourism Fiji’s commitment to assist small and micro businesses in entering the tourism market by minimizing or eliminating costs associated with training and participation in events. He noted that the next Tourism Super Week will take place from May 5 to May 9, 2025, focusing on training and skill enhancement for small enterprises.
Additionally, Hill mentioned that Tourism Fiji provides free resources, including online insights, updates, and website listings, to help micro businesses and SMEs increase their visibility in the tourism market. As for the suggestion of tiered pricing for FTE, he acknowledged Mr. Nata’s concerns and stated that they are actively investigating ways to make participation more accessible for operators of all sizes.
Hill concluded by recognizing the ongoing work required to strengthen the tourism industry and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the MSME Council and other stakeholders.