Tourism Fiji is seeking a website partner to assist in the development of a new global website. This latest development follows on from the National Tourist Office’s announcement last month of its plans to select a lead global advertising agency to create and implement a new Global Masterbrand strategy.

Tourism Fiji said it was looking for a partner to help develop a world class website designed to meet the needs of its various target audiences (consumers, trade and media) in the most effective and user-friendly way possible. The National Tourist Office said that an effective website is critical to its online strategy, as the Internet is increasingly important to consumers for researching, planning and booking their travel.

This in turn underlined the importance of creating and implementing a strong digital strategy designed to maximize global reach to an increasingly complex international market, and boost the effectiveness of and return on its investment. The successful website company will be required to design, build and optimize the global website for Tourism Fiji, which will be managed centrally through the use of an integrated content management system.

The process of tender will be based on an initial credential pitch from which a shortlist of website development companies will be selected and invited to participate in a strategic ideas and technical pitch detailing how they would design and develop a differentiated and truly engaging, user-friendly website for Fiji. A key criterion will be experience in destination website development and management. Given the importance of geographical proximity to Fiji, it is expected that the successful website company will be based in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand or the U.S. West Coast. The tender process will be completed before May.

Website companies wishing to participate in the tender should send an expression of interest by email, no later than Feb. 24, to Michael Meade, acting CEO, at mmeade@tourismfiji.com.fj. For more information, call 011 679 672 2433.