FijiBure lighting its own fire
The popularity of FijiBure.com continues to grow, and with it the proof of the natural ability of our many hosts to provide their guests with a unique cultural experience. We are now experiencing the "FULL" sign at villages on a regular basis with the need to book early matching that of well known local hotels.
Perhaps the best proof of how FijiBure.com is catching on can be seen in this graph of unique visitors visiting the web site since we started monitoring statistics in January this year:
The graph above represents many, many thousands of visitors
The most exciting development for us is the referrals that we are getting from people who are friends of those who have gone before. We are now getting direct bookings without even having to answer questions - often with the comment that they are a "friend of ....". FijiBure.com and our hosts, which celebrate our first anniversary in a few months, could not be happier!
We have now had over 100 guests visit our villages - this success is thanks to our hosts, Simon, Judith, Tomasi, Ema, Sirelli, Susu, Ben, Bill, Toye, Lemeki, Setoka, Bula and Tui. They are the face of Fiji - even the foreign-owned tourist resorts in Fiji confirm this in their advertising.
Expansion of FijiBure.com
We are currently discussing the expansion of FijiBure.com (that will include direct ownership by Fijians) to beach side resorts providing our guests with a couple of days of "western styled" living. At these resorts they will get to learn the Fijian culture and understand the importance of the sevu sevu (traditional village welcoming ceremony with kava). The concept being that future guests will be able to participate in a package which will start with the cultural education and then move to participating in village homestays with a better understanding of the Fijian culture.
When I return to Fiji in October these discussions will hopefully bear fruit!
In closing, FijiBure.com thanks you for your support in the past and in the future and, for those of you who have already participated, CONGRATULATIONS!!! you are the pioneers of an evolving tourist revolution that will go global!
Picture of the month
When visiting Matacawalevu in July this year this beautiful young girl started following me around while the village guide, Tui, was showing me around the village. It was one of those moments that you rarely capture in a photo - but I was fortunate to do so! Her T-shirt and her expression bely her age!
Moce
Scott Balson