FIJI received 350,000 visitors in the first five months of this year, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka.
While delivering his response to the 2025-2026 National Budget in Parliament this week, Mr Gavoka said : “we remain on track despite global challenges”.
“Last year, Fiji welcomed over one million visitors, setting a national record and injecting billions into the economy,” he said.
“The most visited regions are: Denarau – 22 per cent, Coral Coast- 21 per cent, Nadi – 17 per cent, Suva/ Tailevu – 13 per cent, Mamanuca Islands – 10 per cent, Yasawas- 4 per cent.
“But less-visited regions like the Vanua Levu received less than 4 per cent of visitor days.
“This is where our growth focus is next.
He said the Ministry’s goal is for Fiji tourism to be a $4 billion industry with 1.25 million visitors by 2027.
“But these million visitors and billions in receipts are largely centered in two provinces only namely, Ba and Nadroga/Navosa
“We must and we will grow tourism throughout the 14 provinces and the Fiji archipelago.”
Meanwhile, Mr Gavoka also reaffirmed the continuation of the pilot Tourism Micro and Small Enterprise Fund into the new financial year.
“We are looking at businesses in communities who want to develop their waterfall as an attraction, businesses creating local art that goes onto the walls of our hotels, businesses performing traditional meke for cruise visitors and businesses providing homestays in the highlands,” he said.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation had launched the Pilot Tourism Micro and Small Enterprise Fund last year, an innovative initiative aimed at empowering micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism sector.
The fund was supported by a $400,000 allocation in the 2024-2025 national budget.
Mr Gavoka said so far, they’ve assisted seventeen tourism businesses from across Fiji.
He said tourism was no longer just about numbers but about value and impact.
