An e-commerce project that started offering free online booking development to small-medium sized accommodation businesses in Tonga two years ago is now in full swing across 11 Pacific Islands.

A contract signed between the South Pacific Tourism Organisation and the World Hotel Link Group in Fiji two weeks ago on 1 February 2013 will seek to offer at least 100 local small to medium sized accommodation businesses in the region an opportunity to increase their market attention with free online booking assistance.

 The Hong Kong based online travel-booking agency provides an accommodation booking through its subsidiary “Hotel Links Solutions”.

A media release from the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) said the focus of assistance is to set up “e-commerce enabled websites” which would maximize “online exposure”.

The e-commerce development was part of an EU funded project, which initially began trialing in 2011 in four Pacific Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands and Kiribati.

Mr Taratake of  SPTO communications said the project targets private accommodation enterprises that are “willing” and “market ready”.

Tongan accommodations were among those that praised the service on the www.whl.travel [2] website, according to the Matangi Malie Lagoon Resort who said, “thank god for people like Hotel Link Solutions”.

Ilisoni Vuidreteki, CEO of SPTO, said that accommodation providers “must have an online booking system” in order to maximize online exposure.

 “Over 80% of all accommodation providers in the Pacific region are locally owned small and medium scale operators...it is extremely important they keep to the ever growing global development in information technology and the internet.”

CEO, Len Cordiner, of the Hotel Link Solution is confident of the operation “This SPTO initiative, in concert with their new regional web site and e-marketing focus, is a huge step towards ensuring the Pacific region does not fall behind” and the WHL has “seen first-hand how important it is for the small and medium scale accommodation providers to master online sales and distribution.”