The month of July marked the largest number of Australians visiting Fiji on record.
Minister for Tourism Faiyaz Koya said as a result of the high number of visitors to Fiji this year, tourist numbers were better than 2019, before the global pandemic.
Speaking at the 26th Fiji Australia Business Council, Australia Fiji Business Council Joint Forum, he said 56.4 per cent of visitors visited the country from January to July, 2022 alone.
“In terms of tourism recovery, visitor numbers from January to July 2022 indicate that we have already recovered over half or 56.4 per cent of the visitors Fiji received in the same period in 2019,” he said.
“From January to July, we have received 163,466 Australians.
“In July alone, we received a record 37,005, a 101 per cent recovery of 2019 numbers and the highest number of Aussies in a month on record.”
He said there was a changing paradigm in the tourism industry that needed to be wholeheartedly welcomed.
“Our national airline, Fiji Airways, is holding approximately 8 per cent higher bookings from August and going forward for the 12 months.
“We are also looking at new markets.
“Soon, Fiji Airways will start direct flights to Vancouver.”
