IN yet another first, Rosie Holidays hosted an executive of one of China’s leading online tourism wholesalers — opening the doors to 200 million users that transact on the site.
Duan Dongdong, vice-president of Fliggy, the online travel company of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, arrived in the country yesterday to meet Tourism Fiji CEO Matthew Stoeckel and Rosie Holidays managing director Tony Whitton.
Mr Dongdong is visiting the country to familiarise himself with what Fiji has to offer and to finalise a memorandum of understanding with Fliggy that will lead to the promotion and marketing of Fiji Airways and Fiji Holiday packages on its travel portal.
“This is an important milestone for Fiji Tourism — alitrip.com is now China’s leading online travel company with 200 million users that transact on the site to purchase air tickets and holiday packages,” Mr Whitton said.
“Last year the Alibaba group launched their new online brand Fliggy targeting Chinese millennials, which is a market segment numbering approximately 385 million upwardly mobile people between the ages of 20-35 years, looking for inspiring long haul travel destinations.”
Rosie Holidays pioneering charter services from Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou combined with Fiji Airways’ scheduled Hong Kong flights means the country will be in a good position to capitalise on market opportunities on the Fliggy site.
Mr Stoeckel said Fliggy offered access to growing free independent traveller and youth markets in China.
“Discussions today (yesterday) have been very positive on the opportunity to market, distribute and transact Fiji Holiday packages on the giant Alitrip.com platform,” he said.
“We remain very focused on China as a priority long haul destination that last year saw a 23 per cent growth in visitor arrivals, welcoming close to 50,000 Chinese visitors to our shores to experience our culture, enjoy our fresh seafood and tropical fruits and interact with the happiest people in the world.”
The MOU between the Alibaba Group and Tourism Fiji will pave the way for the creation of a Fiji Tourism Pavilion on the Fliggy portal.
“In effect it will be the marketing platform which will drive Chinese travel consumers to the Fiji Pavilion to access information on Fiji, and book airline seats, resorts, tours and activities,” Mr Whitton said.
