By Prerna Priyanka
Tourism Fiji has joined forces with Mastercard to offer surfing enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the waves of Cloudbreak with three-time world champion surfer, Mick Fanning.
The exclusive week-long trip at Namotu Island Surf Resort has already captured the imagination of global surfing fans. Now, in a unique twist, Tourism Fiji is extending the thrill to locals through a special collaboration with Mastercard.
Brent Hill, CEO at Tourism Fiji, said they are thrilled to give Mastercard cardholders in Fiji this opportunity.
“This collaboration goes beyond exclusive experiences; it’s about reigniting the passion for surfing amongst our locals, fostering inclusivity, and promoting a sport that has been woven into Fiji’s culture for decades.”
Tourism Fiji hosted a promotional event at Port Denarau Marina yesterday, where participants could use their Mastercard at selected stores, including Jacks of Fiji, Harrisons Tourism, Captain Cook Cruises, Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant, and Bone Fish Seafood Restaurant. Five winners were selected to embark on the ultimate day trip with Mick Fanning on Thursday, December 14.
The exclusive day trip package includes two tickets to Cloudbreak, a renowned surf spot, a two-hour surfing lesson with Mick Fanning himself, and a delicious lunch on the boat.
Srishti Narayan, Chief Marketing Officer at Tourism Fiji, shed light on the strategic importance of such partnerships.
“In the last year, we’ve had partnerships with the likes of Ripcurl, Mastercard, the iconic GoPro; globally recognised brands that have really good recognition and really good perceptions in the market.”
Narayan continued: “High-profile events like this support tourism in Fiji by bringing attention to the country for people interested in that particular area,” she said. “They bring people to Fiji who come specifically to attend the event.”
She noted that the recent Spartan event injected around $40 million into Fiji, showcasing the economic impact of sports tourism.
The collaboration with Mastercard builds on Tourism Fiji’s overarching strategy to promote sports tourism, with a particular focus on surfing.
She says the initiative aligns seamlessly with the upcoming World Surf League (WSL) event scheduled to return to Fiji in August 2024.
“It’s about raising awareness of surfing in Fiji in advance of WSL and starting that narrative around how Fiji has excellent world-class waves,” said Narayan.
Narayan is confident the WSL event will bring significant monetary returns, citing data from other major sporting events held in Fiji.
