Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s official visit to Israel and the United States cost Fijian taxpayers $87,658.34, making it the most expensive of the seven overseas trips listed under his name in a written parliamentary response.
The trip, which included the opening of Fiji’s embassy in Israel and attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, incurred $49,891 in airfares, $28,861 in accommodation and $8,906.34 in meals and incidental expenses.
The figures were disclosed in response to Written Question 247/2026 by Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, who asked the Prime Minister to provide details of official overseas travel undertaken by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Assistant Ministers between May 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.
According to the response, the Fiji Government incurred a total of $141,849.20 for the seven overseas trips listed for Mr Rabuka.
The Israel and US visit accounted for approximately 62 per cent of that expenditure.
Other trips included a visit to the Solomon Islands for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, which cost $16,299.05, and a visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral relations and sign the Lomavata Kizuna Partnership Agreement, which cost $16,769.53.
The Prime Minister’s visit to India, which also included New Zealand, cost $7,707.55, while a trip to Australia for official Fiji Day celebrations cost $8,580.84.
A separate high-level visit to Australia cost $3,970.01, while attendance at the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Papua New Guinea cost $863.88.
The response also showed that foreign governments and other organisations covered certain travel expenses.
The Australian Government provided accommodation and airfare for one visit, while the Indian Government covered accommodation in India and airfare for the India visit.
The governments of Japan, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea also met specified expenses associated with the Prime Minister’s visits.
The figures relate to the Prime Minister’s travel expenditure listed in the response and do not represent the combined overseas travel costs of all ministers and assistant ministers.
