The revelation that the tourism industry contributed an all-time record, $351million, to the country will be welcomed.
It’s great news!
In fact it’s the kind of news we need as a nation.
We now know that’s how much the tourism industry contributed towards the country in July this year.
Tourism Fiji has announced this was because of the 98,332 visitors who came to Fiji that month, which it says was the highest for visitor arrivals in Fiji.
“I’m incredibly proud of our industry – success is not assumed, and comes with a lot of hard work,” said Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji had also announced that financial conditions in the country remain conducive to more growth in the coming months.
So, as the figures seem to suggest, we do have the makings of a great destination.
Our visitors probably came in with pictures of white sandy beaches, clear blue waters and maybe a great cultural experience on their minds.
Who knows!
They probably had swaying palm trees as well at the back of their minds, and visions of the seemingly endless run up of the Pacific Ocean onto lovely beachfronts around the country.
Then there’s the peace and quiet you can expect in Pacific Island countries.
They all make for a peaceful, and relaxing holiday, with a lot of new experiences and beauty to embrace and savour to the brim.
The figures are promising! They look great and should motivate those in the industry to continue doing their best to raise them even further.
It is good to know the specifics also, as they provide us a clear indication of who our visitors are, where they are from, their possible interests, their hopes and aspirations, what they like, and what we can do to continue to attract them to our country.
Any increase in tourist numbers is good for us.
It will mean employment opportunities, and a boost in the domestic economy.
We, however, must accept that beyond the infrastructure development, and the policies, we all have a role to play as well.
The attraction shouldn’t just be on the clear blue waters, swaying coconut trees and white sandy beaches.
There are other factors to consider, from prices, access, the weather, and the spirit of the people.
We, once again, highlight the need for us to remind ourselves about the role we play as ambassadors of our country.
The record-breaking revenue is a testament to the resilience of the industry, and to the hard work, dedication and commitment of all stakeholders!
It’s also an exciting development highlighting the appeal of our country as a top travel destination.
The challenge now is to build on this momentum! Congratulations are in order!
