Fiji's tourism industry needs to prepare for an influx of tourists from China in the not too distant future, Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has said.

He made the statement in relation to the Approved Destination Status (ADS) that has been approved in principle by the Chinese government while the Prime Minister was there last week on a working visit, according to a government press release reaching here Sunday.

Currently, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, are among the 34 countries awarded the ADS for the Chinese market.

"The Approved Destination Status is important for the development of tourism in Fiji...we are very fortunate in Fiji that we have been given ADS in principle and it shouldn't take long to finalize that decision," Qarase said Friday.

"I envisage that we will need to train some of our people in the Chinese language so that when Chinese visitors come into the country we can have people who can look after them."

The Prime Minister added that it's time too for the tourism industry to study the requirements of Chinese visitors to overseas destinations in terms of what they want, what kind of food, what do they want to see and so on so that when they come to Fiji we are prepared.

"There is great potential for tourism between the two countries and I see China as a very significant source of tourists in the future," he said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2004)