It is encouraging to see that our tourism industry is on an upward trajectory.
When we compare figures for April and March this year, there was a 11.5 per cent increase.
There were 77,292 tourists in April compared with 69,335 in March.
It’s a positive sign for the industry and is in line with the target for a million visitors this year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Viliame Gavoka had said that we are on track to welcome a million visitors when he spoke at the Fiji Tourism Exchange earlier this month.
When we break down the arrival figures, Australians remain the dominant force, contributing over 36,407 visitors.
They are followed by 18,234 visitors from New Zealand, and 8018 tourists from the US.
It is good to note growing numbers from China, Europe and Canada.
It obviously reflects a lot of good things about Fiji.
The breakdown of ages shows us some interesting figures.
The majority of visitors were in the age range of 25-64 years (63.1 per cent), which accounts for the vast majority of the working age population.
Children aged 14 and below accounted for 17.2 per cent of the April visitor arrivals.
And 10.0 per cent of visitors were those in the retirement age group of 65 and over.
It is good to know that 77.3 per cent of our total arrivals came here for a holiday.
They chose Fiji to relax and unwind!
It is a major plus for our image as a holiday destination.
About 10 per cent came to visit their friends or relatives, 2.6 per cent came for business, and 10.1 per cent visited Fiji for other reasons.
So in the minds of the majority, we have the makings of a great destination.
They probably came in with pictures of white sandy beaches, clear blue waters and maybe a great cultural experience etched on their minds.
They probably had swaying palm trees as well in the background as they sat watching the seemingly endless run up of the Pacific Ocean onto lovely beachfronts.
The figures are promising and will motivate those in the industry to continue doing their best to raise them.
It is good to know the specifics as well as they provide us a clear indication of who our visitors are.
Any increase in tourist numbers is good for us.
It will mean employment opportunities, and a boost in the domestic economy.
In saying that, we accept that beyond the infrastructure development, and the policies, we all have a role to play as well.
The attraction shouldn’t just be in the clear blue waters, swaying coconut trees and white sandy beaches as we noted at the top.
There are other factors to consider, from prices, access, the weather, and the spirit of the people.
We are ambassadors of our country.
We have a very important role to play in welcoming our visitors, and making them feel at home!
The returns would be great for Fiji!
