Eight travel agents are in the country to promote Fiji as a tourist destination for the Chinese population in New Zealand. The business development and acquisition manager of Gullivers Travel Group in New Zealand, Paul Schoffelmeer, brought the group to Fiji. Mr Schoffelmeer said over 100,000 Chinese were in New Zealand and the visit aimed to highlight Fiji as a tourist destination to Chinese travel agents in New Zealand. Mr Schoffelmeer said the travel agents were sighting the variety of tours and accommodation available in the country. Mr Schoffelmeer, who has visited Fiji a number of times, said the idea was to have the Chinese community in New Zealand visit Fiji in the same numbers as other New Zealanders. Mr
Schoffelmeer said the increase in the number of Chinese tourists arriving into Fiji from New Zealand was expected to be gradual. The travel agents are here for three days and have been to the Outrigger on the Reef, Sofitel and Sonasali resorts. (Source: Fiji Times 13/05/2006)