Enjoy a mindful sip of your coffee and smile, because Tourism Fiji has announced the next phase of its ‘Bulanaires’ program; a campaign that focuses on being rich in happiness, love, and vitality.
With global happiness on the decline*, the tourism board developed the campaign to address what we are all ultimately seeking, which is happiness.
According to a recent survey**, it indicated two-thirds of Australians felt that they could be happier.
The ‘Bulanaires’ initiative ties into Tourism Fiji’s brand ethos of “where happiness finds you”, focusing on what sets Fiji apart from other destinations; its people who are rich in happiness.
READ: HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH: Why ‘Bulanaires’ Are The New Billionaires
READ: BULA FIJI! 10 Reasons Why You Should Pack Your Bags & Visit Paradise!
The Bulanaires
On the international day of happiness last year, Tourism Fiji released an inaugural Bulanaires list, compiled under the guidance of happiness experts Professor Lea Waters and Arianna Huffington, which featured a selection of local and international personalities who they defined as being rich in happiness.
For 2020, the tourism board will build upon the success of the last year’s campaign by honouring the true heroes of the hospitality industry in Fiji. Local Bulanaires will be nominated to share the ‘Bula Spirit’ with visitors to the destination and to reinforce why Fiji is the place where happiness finds you.
“We believe our Bulanaires program provides a unique, ownable position for Fiji that represents the true character of the destination. Importantly it profiles the incredibly warm hospitality of our tourism industry which makes us such an appealing destination to visit.
Mr. Matthew Stoeckel, Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer
“We are confident that the next phase of the campaign will continue to go a long way in attracting more people to come and visit Fiji to experience for themselves the place where happiness finds you,” he continued.
Many of Professor Lea Waters’ general guiding principles for happiness are found among the people of Fiji, which likely explains why Fiji was deemed the ‘Happiest Country in the World’ in the 2017 annual Gallup International Survey on Happiness, Hope and Economic Optimism. The same survey found that the world’s happiness had declined since the previous year, with Fiji bucking this trend.
“Bulanaires redefines the way we measure success.”
Professor Lea Waters
Professor Lea Waters said: “A common measure of success is often portrayed through the annual ‘rich lists’ that showcase the increased number of billionaires each year. But perhaps instead, we need to consider finding happiness and contentment as a measure for being rich. Fijians have that in abundance.”
For the month of March, travellers to Fiji will be able to meet some of the selected Bulanaires as part of its Happiness Month, as well as enjoy ‘happy moments’ with complimentary add-ons at many resorts and hotels, and activities such as extended happy hours and complimentary massages as part of the initiative.
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*Gallup International annual survey on Happiness, Hope and Economic Optimism 2017
**9Nation national survey on consumer happiness in Australia, 2019