Pacific Islands To Strengthen Border Security

Pacific Islands To Strengthen Border Security With
Sita’s Idetect Advance Passenger Information System

Singapore/New Zealand (October 18, 2006) — Addressing the concern for border security and passenger processing time, the Fiji Immigration Department today announced the implementation of SITA’s iDetect Advance Passenger Information (API) system scheduled to go live across the country by end of the year.

Fiji is one of the first countries in the Pacific islands to adopt SITA’s border management solutions after its neighbours Australia and New Zealand. Border security is an important issue for the Pacific Islands and is being addressed at the 10th Annual Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference (PIDC) being held in Wellington, New Zealand, from 17-19 October 2006.

Tui Mateo Koroiveibau, Compliance and Investigation Manager of Fiji Immigration Department, who is presenting at this conference said, “The adoption of SITA’s iDetect enabled us to enhance border security and foster multilateral co-operation, particularly among the Pacific islands.”

“The speed of implementation of an improved security system was vital in light of the growing number of travellers to Fiji. We partnered with SITA who provided this efficient and secure passenger service in a matter of months. This will greatly help to facilitate businesses and tourism to our country”, added Tui.

The implementation of SITA’s iDetect, is part of the Fiji’s seven-year Rolling Tourism Plan to build infrastructures to meet the growing tourism industry. Fiji’s tourism has experienced rapid growth in the last five years, and tourist numbers are increasing at an average of 10% annually. Total tourist numbers reached an all time high in 2005 with 521,000 visitors. By 2011, the number of tourists is expected to exceed 800,000.

Airlines flying routes to-and-from Fiji participating in the iDetect API program include Air Pacific, Air New Zealand, Korean Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Polynesian Blue, Pacific Blue, Air Vanuatu, Air Nauru, Air Calin and Solomon Airlines.

SITA’s iDetect allows the Fiji immigration authorities to pre-screen passengers prior to their arrival. It is a post-departure system combining passenger and flight data to provide control authorities with clear, detailed and standardized records for each traveller on each incoming flight, ahead of arrival.

“With the adoption of SITA’s iDetect API technology, Fiji is now one of the countries using SITA’s innovative solutions for border management and passenger facilitation. Through our IT solutions and provision of efficient border control systems, SITA can help governments and airlines increase the efficiency of travellers’ services and aid international co-operation” commented Thomas Marten, SITA Vice President of Global Government and Security.

SITA’s comprehensive portfolio of border management solutions aims to help government control authorities improve border management and transportation security, and at the same time to ease the processing of the majority of travellers – indirectly promoting tourism, business and trade.

- END -
For further information (not for publication) contact:

Susanna Leong
Regional Marketing Consultant
Tel: +65 6548 2872
Mobile: +65 9366 9931
Email: Susanna.Leong@sita.aero

Notes to Editors:

About SITA

SITA is the world's leading service provider of integrated IT business solutions and communication services for the air transport industry. SITA manages complex communication solutions for its air transport, government and GDS customers over the world's most extensive communication network, complemented by consultancy in the design, deployment and integration of communication services. Its broad range of airline and airport IT applications and services includes airport operations and integrated baggage services, common use and desktop services, flight operations and air-to-ground communications and end-to-end airline distribution and fares services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is leading the race to bring in-flight mobile telephony to the market, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company solely dedicated to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management. In addition, SITA sponsors .aero, the Internet top level domain reserved exclusively for aviation.

SITA covers 220 countries and territories and the head office is in Geneva, Switzerland. SITA had aggregated revenues of US$ 1.554 billion in 2005 (€ 1.295 billion).

Further information can be found at www.sita.aero

Ends

© Scoop Media