13 May 2009

Niue's profile for hosting pacific regional meetings is growing

11:14 am on 13 May 2009

Niue's profile for hosting pacific regional meetings is growing, with the country hosting two big meetings just this month.

The Forum Fisheries Agency is currently meeting,, while the Food and Agriculture Organisation's meeting to be held later in the month

Last year Niue hosted the Pacific Forum Leaders summit but the bar manager of the Falala Fa Bar, Lofa Rex, says the Niue businesses are benefitting much more this time around.

She says this is because the delegates are making more of an effort to make use of the local restaurants, bar and accommodation facilities.

However the President of the Niue Chamber of Commerce, Sonya Talagi, says some hotels had turned away tourist bookings anticipating the arrival of delegates.

She says some hotels have lost money because not all the delegates who arrived honoured their accommodation arrangements.

"That's not the aim I believe of the department bringing the regional meetings to Niue. I know they want to bring money into the economy in Niue but to do so we all need to work together to make sure the everybody benefits from these meetings."

Sonya Talagi says she would like to see better co-ordination between the Department of Agriculture and accommodation providers.