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Fiji resorts are doing their best to get New Zealand tourists back with offers of free food, free extra nights and at some places, free booze.
And industry insiders are saying even better offers are yet to come.
Tourism Fiji has launched a marketing campaign aimed at getting
tourists back to its islands after reporting its quietest tourist season on record.
But the resorts are hitting back, luring tourists to their islands with offers of extra nights, free activities, free food and at some places, local beer, wine and spirits.
House of Travel's destination manager for the South Pacific, Lynda Millward, said "some very aggressive packages" would soon be on the market.
She would not reveal how far resorts were likely to go to get tourists back but said: "If you're looking to book a holiday, you should keep an eye on the newspaper."
Gordon Chesterman, former Fiji tourism consultant for 20 years and now Hamilton city councillor, said travel package prices for this time of year were "pretty good".
"There are some good offers. Four nights at the Sheraton for $1489 with all meals included and flights is a very good offer at a very nice hotel."
Mr Chesterman said there were "strong pricing offers" from Fiji, where it was business as usual for about 95 per cent of the country.
But he said its resorts were probably feeling the heat from some equally robust deals from the Gold Coast in Australia.
"You can get a package there for $799 a week and that includes the airfare," he said.
"It [Fiji] is still seen as more expensive than the Gold Coast.
"But if you're looking for an exotic destination then you're paying a premium to do that ... then again, I'd rather go to Fiji myself."
Harvey World Travel general manager Adrian Turner said prices to Fiji were "not dirt cheap" but were still competitive.
"You're not going to pay $500 for flights and a week's accommodation but the packages we are seeing now are very good," he said.
"You would normally go to Fiji and kids would be the only ones who got to eat for free but now adults are having all their meals paid for as well at most places."
Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto blamed extensive January flooding in the country's west and north for a slowdown in the market.
But he told the Weekend Herald the industry was starting to see a shift in the number of bookings.
"There are some places that you'll pay for three [nights] and get six."
