Fiji is forecast to welcome 1,003,283 international visitors in 2026, potentially surpassing the one-million mark for the first time in the country’s history.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka revealed the projection while officially opening the Adventure Capital Exhibition 2026 at The Pearl Resort & Spa in Pacific Harbour yesterday.
Mr Gavoka said the Ministry of Finance’s forecast signalled another significant milestone for Fiji’s tourism industry, but stressed that increasing visitor numbers alone should not be the measure of success.
He said the focus must now shift towards encouraging tourists to stay longer, spend more and ensure that the economic benefits of tourism reach communities across the country.
“Prosperity confined to a handful of towns or provinces is not prosperity at all,” Mr Gavoka said.
He urged tourism operators to strengthen partnerships and develop experiences that would encourage visitors to spend more time in Pacific Harbour rather than treating the region as a day-trip destination.
The Adventure Capital Exhibition brings together land, river and ocean tour operators, resorts, diving specialists, conservation organisations, transport providers and travel agents.
Mr Gavoka said the event provided an opportunity for smaller tourism businesses to connect with established operators and expand their market reach.
“Adventure is part of who we are. It is in our rivers and rainforests, in our reefs and open water, and in the welcome of our people,” he said.
He described the exhibition as an important platform for partnerships between small tour operators, eco-tourism businesses, major resorts and travel agents.
“These are the connections that turn a good idea into a booking, and a booking into a livelihood,” Mr Gavoka said.
He also emphasised the importance of protecting Fiji’s natural environment as the tourism industry continued to expand.
“Our reefs, rivers and forests are more than the backdrop to our product. They are the product,” he said.
Mr Gavoka said the Government would continue supporting tourism operators through the National Sustainable Tourism Framework 2024–2034 and the Tourism Act 2026, providing a regulatory foundation for sustainable investment and growth.
He thanked the exhibition’s partners and sponsors, including Lawhill Fiji, and acknowledged Tourism Fiji’s continued efforts to promote the country internationally.
The exhibition aims to strengthen Pacific Harbour’s position as Fiji’s leading adventure tourism destination while creating greater economic opportunities for surrounding communities.
