Tourism Fiji accuses travel writers of hypocrisy

Comments

Mystery person
3 Dec 09
4:56 pm


Go Fiji – as an ASTW member for many years I am appalled at the way this society has handled all of this. Bloody hypocrites – wonder how many perks the comittee received from the Thais – first class airfares, suites, chauffeurred limos – you betcha. Did any one take time to see the blood stains on the streets of Bangkok.

Kris Madden
4 Dec 09
4:01 pm


As current president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers I feel I must respond to this post. The current committee, which was elected at the Society’s AGM in Thailand, had nothing to do with the organisation of the Thailand AGM.

I can assure you that no member of the current committee has received the ‘perks’ referred to in this posting by “Mystery Person”. I find it insulting and defamatory.

On the subject of Fiji – there is an incorrect assumption that the reason that the ASTW committee chose to decline the invitation from Fiji Tourism is on political grounds. The facts are, like every AGM, the consideration is whether the meeting will achieve a quorum. As stated in my letter to Fiji Tourism, the decision was based on the fact that we could not guarantee that we would achieve a quorum if the meeting was held in Fiji. That was the deciding factor, and while the political situation was taken into consideration, it was a combination of factors that lead to the decision.

I am also disappointed that this is now being debated in a public arena when it could have easily been handled with dignity between the two parties concerned.

Mystery person - two
7 Dec 09
3:48 pm


Limos, suites, first class airfares? I know for certain that this wasn’t the case – just ask any of the many people on the ground in Thailand and in Australia who worked so hard to provide such a terrific event. This is insulting to all those who worked so hard to get it to happen, including (presumably) those committee members who worked on the event and remained on committee following the AGM (despite what the second writer said).

It appears that both the previous emails are of a similar ilk, and I join a growing chorus of PR members of the ASTW in saying that we are all sick and tired of the climate of blame and abuse that has emerged in recent months. The ASTW seems to be lurching from one disaster to the next. Talk about a sinking ship. Someone needs to grab hold of the helm …

Not-so mysterious Vincent Ross
8 Dec 09
1:20 am


I’m with “Mystery Person 3” on this.
I’m finding the ongoing campaign of criticism of the previous committee not only unjustified and insulting to our dedication to the ASTW, but also eroding to the society in general.
By the way, I’m not a “Mystery Person”. I’m Vincent Ross, past president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers.
As a member of the ASTW Committee which organised the Thailand AGM, I wish to correct “Mystery Person 1” on a couple of points:

* There were no first-class airfares. The-then committee flew economy, with the option of upgrading at their own expense. I don’t know in what class members of the new committee returned to Australia.

* I’m not sure whether the hotel suites we stayed in were “first class”, but they were comfortable, as were the suites of all ASTW members who were very graciously hosted by Bangkok hotels and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

* No limos for the former ASTW Committee in Bangkok. Probably my most serious indulgence was that I was picked up at the airport by a host hotel vehicle.
Other than that, I assume you are not referring to the mini-van kindly organised by TAT as a “limo”.
It was provided to take myself and other committee members to the Bangkok School of the Blind, where we represented the membership, including you, in presenting a $1000 donation cheque from the ASTW to a very worthwhile charity.

In future, please check your facts.

Alice - Thumbrella
14 Dec 09
4:54 pm


While this is a legitimate topic for discussion, we’ve closed the comment stream for legal reasons.

Alice – Thumbrella