CERTAIN isolated incidents dampened what should have been a peak season last month, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka.
Mr Gavoka was referring to guests who were hospitalised in December last year after allegedly consuming pina colada at the Warwick Fiji Resort on the Coral Coast.
Officiating at the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards on Saturday, Mr Gavoka said the festive season was not without its challenges.
“While we extend our thoughts to those affected, let us not allow these challenges to define us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Gavoka said according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Fiji welcomed 982,938 visitors by air in 2024, marking a 5.7 per cent increase in 2023.
“This growth is a testament to the resilience and appeal of Fiji as a world- class destination.
“While the Bureau of Statistics does not currently include cruise ship arrivals in its official tally, additional data indicates an estimated 81, 854 tourist arrivals on cruise ships in 2024.
“This brings us closer than ever to achieving our ambitious targets, reflecting the hard work of every individual in this room and the collective efforts of our industry to rebuild, innovate and thrive.
“To put this into perspective, in 2022, Fiji recorded 636,312 visitor arrivals.
This grew to 929,740 in 2023, marking a 46.1 increase.
In 2024, total visitor arrivals reached 982,938 reflecting a 5.7 growth from 2023 and an impressive 54.5 increase compared to 2022.
“These numbers are not just statistics; they are a testament to the growing confidence that travellers around the world have in Fiji as a premier destination.”
Mr Gavoka said tourism was more than just visitor numbers, it was the backbone of our economy.
“Our industry contributes a staggering 40 per cent to Fiji’s GDP, making it the largest economic sector in our nation.
“It provides direct and indirect employment to over 150,000 Fijians, meaning nearly one in three jobs is linked to tourism.”
