The chairman of the MSME council, Watesoni Nata Jr, has expressed concerns that small businesses should not be charged the same rates as large multi-million-dollar companies for booth space at the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE). Nata made his remarks during the Fiji Convention 2024 held in Nadi, advocating for a more strategic approach to product development, experience marketing, and a tiered pricing system that would accommodate smaller operators.
“We believe that as small businesses, we should not pay the same amount as larger corporations for exhibit space. They have the means to pay more, which could help lower costs for smaller enterprises,” he stated.
Tourism Fiji’s CEO, Brent Hill, acknowledged the importance of smaller operators in the tourism sector while responding to inquiries from the media. “We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by the Convention to hear stakeholders’ challenges and aspirations,” Hill said.
He emphasized the crucial role of smaller businesses in the tourism ecosystem, mentioning that last year during the Tourism SuperWeek, over 50 small businesses were supported to attend at no cost, and an additional 60 benefited from a sponsorship that allowed them to participate in the AdventureEDU training.
“We are constantly exploring ways to lessen or eliminate costs for small and micro businesses to access the tourism industry and training,” Hill added.
He confirmed that Tourism Fiji is dedicated to preparing operators for the tourism market. “Our agile Destination Development team is working closely with local businesses to ready them for trade opportunities,” he explained. Hill also shared that the next Tourism Super Week is planned for May 5 to May 9, 2025, focusing on further training and upskilling of small businesses.
Tourism Fiji offers free support for micro businesses and SMEs through online resources, industry insights, and webinars. Additionally, their website listings are designed to enhance visibility for small operators within the tourism market.
In response to Nata’s suggestion for a tiered pricing structure for the FTE, Hill acknowledged the concerns and mentioned that they are actively looking for solutions to make participation accessible for trade-ready operators of all sizes. He emphasized the importance of small businesses becoming “tourism ready” by engaging with initiatives like SuperWeek and AdventureEDU to prepare for larger events.
Hill concluded by stating that while there is still much work to be done, he looks forward to partnering with the MSME Council and other stakeholders to strengthen the tourism industry.