Fiji welcomed about a remarkable number of visitor in 2023, says chief executive officer of Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Fantasha Lockington.
While speaking at the Fiji OHS conference at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour last Friday, she said visitors spent about $3.5b in Fiji last year.
“A total spends from visitors, not just purchasing a ticket, staying in a hotel, but eating and drinking food and beverages, buying souvenirs, getting entertained, is around $3.5b,” Ms Lockinton said.
“So, that was pretty good all in all.”
She said they were doing their best to get this kind of outcome.
“We made sure that we are meeting some of the great expectations of our potential visitors.
“So, this is the kind of spend for tourism in Fiji for which the destination marketers would spend overseas making sure that people are well aware of where Fiji is and how they can get there. And when you do come here how much you can be entertained and enjoy.
“About $50 million is probably spent by Fiji Airways. It goes further and it makes sure that it can fill up the very new planes that it has just taken delivery of over the last few years.”
Ms Lockington said the industry in total spent about $150million collectively on an annual basis to market Fiji in the world.
“They talk about what Fiji is all about in terms of tourism destinations.
“You all heard about the Lonely Planet. It has Fiji constantly on its list of happiest countries. And it gives 10 reasons consistently about why Fiji is such a happy country.
“If you go around asking people, whether you’re in the room or outside or anywhere you go in Fiji and you ask- are you happy, the most likely response most people will give is ‘yes’.
“Eighty-nine per cent of our locals agree that they are happy.”
