Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Viliame Gavoka says the tourism sector is Fiji’s saviour in terms of boosting economic growth.
Mr Gavoka was speaking to participants of a two-day Tour Guide Training during the Tourism Super Week 2025 held at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau, Nadi.
“Economists believe it contributes to about 40 per cent of our GDP,” he said, adding this showed the economy was booming.
“In terms of quantum, when you talk about 40 per cent of GDP, what is it in terms of dollars and cents? That equates to about $3.4billion a year, and that’s close to about over a million visitors every year.
“But if you factor in the cruise arrivals, that’s 1.06 million visitors each year. So, it translates to about $3.4billion.”
Mr Gavoka said the Government wanted to see leaders in communities benefit from these investments.
“Everyone must have a piece of that cake and that is fundamental to the National Tourism Sustainable Framework, basically to spread tourism to the 14 provinces across Fiji.
“Today, only the provinces of Nadroga/Navosa and Ba are dominant in tourism and that’s about two provinces.
“Some of it is in the sunshine coast in Ra, Vanua Levu is being developed, so imagine if tourism grows to all the 14 provinces in Fiji, what are you going to do to the economy of this country.”
Mr Gavoka said those who were trained and were prepared to embrace tourism needed to also benefit from this.
