Innovative Business Training for Fiji Tourism MSMEs Commences In August

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation(SPTO) has partnered with Fiji’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources to deliver a two days Powerhours capacity building workshop for Fiji’s Micro, Small and Medium (MSMEs) tourism enterprises, from the 7^th to the 8^th of August, 2017.
Fiji’s Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya said that the Fijian Government has been a member of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) since its inception in 1983 and is delighted to support initiatives geared towards improving the performance of Fiji’s sectors, especially the MSMEs.
“Government will continue to implement initiatives such as the Micro and Small Business Grant programme, with the overall objective of bolstering Fiji’s economy through the provision of a grant to eligible individuals who can positively contribute to increase economic activity and improving MSME sector’s contribution to our Gross Domestic Product,” stated Minister Koya.
He further added that the MSMEs support the tourism industry either directly or indirectly through the provision of a wide range of products such as accommodation, catering, transportation, attractions and activities.
“These of course add to the variety, authenticity and quality of the tourism experience Fiji is renowned for, which in turn translates to tourism earnings” said Minister Koya.
Empowering our MSME’s through capacity building is essential in ensuring that they possess the necessary skills and abilities to improve, progress and expand their business, which in turn increases their contribution to the economy and multiplier effect.
The workshop will be facilitated by New Zealand-based Learn.fast Centre with key topics covering branding and marketability, tourism trends, increasing business profits, tourism marketing on small budgets, sustainable ‘best practices’ for small business; and crisis and risk management. The trainer will also be providing individual business coaching to trainees during the training.
Furthermore, the workshop is designed to inspire and motivate managers, owners and members of the MSME community, which make up the bulk of the private sector in Fiji, and at the same time, develop and build on their capabilities.
Therefore, for interested individuals, participation costs for non-SPTO members is FJD$50 and FJD$25 for SPTO members per person per session, with a maximum of two delegates per company.
SPTO Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocker said that the tourism sector in Fiji is projected to reach 831,936 by end of 2017 and MSMEs hold a great potential to help drive this growth.
“SPTO values Fiji’s support of SPTO and therefore we are working closely with Fiji’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources to provide essential business skills training to propel Fijian tourism businesses forward,” said Mr. Cocker.
He further added that SPTO has designed these workshops to provide more value for money and benefits to the bulk of the tourism industry, which are the MSMEs.
“This is the second time we are running the Powerhours training with Learn.fast. The first training in Tonga worked well and we are now replicating these to other SPTO member countries as part of SPTO’s private sector membership offering,” he said.
To register, contact Ms. Rusila Drekeni, Membership Officer at the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) on email rdrekeni@spto.org; telephone 9987990 (Vodafone), 7734177 (Digicel) or 330 4177 (Landline).
Registrations close Friday, 04th, August 2017.  Further information on the workshop is available ONLINE HERE

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About SPTO
Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 18 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation enlists a private sector membership base.

For more information, contact:
Alisi Lutu, Marketing Manager
South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)
Email: alutu@spto.org or +679 3304177

(Source: South Pacific Tourism Organisation Press Release 20 July 2017)