Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the filming of Survivor Season 41 in Fiji in April, 2021 generated approximately $25 million in local expenditure and an estimated $79m in new economic activity, says Film Fiji chief executive officer Ramiro Tenorio.
He made these comments to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs that reviewed Film Fiji’s annual reports for the period August, 2016 to July 31, 2017 and January 1 to July 31, 2016 that was tabled in Parliament this week.
Mr Tenorio said the Survivor Season 41 had a total production budget of $99 million .
“Despite the outbreak, we managed to help US Survivor shoot in Fiji an additional season (season 42) in isolation, while having to carefully handle interisland movements and other logistical matters,” he said.
He said the production created direct employment for 408 locals.
“COVID has had a devastating effect in the local film and TV production service industry, our cluster of providers is now weaker than in pre-pandemic times, and we have lost qualified workforce to other industries.
“We have also seen competition strengthening their positions, which in turn has made our position as a film production destination weaker.
“We continue to counter these effects by placing our resources on a well-executed digital marketing strategy by improving the ease of doing business in Fiji reviewing and improving policies that affect the industry and by creating training and development opportunities.”
