Tourist cruise ship operator South Sea Cruises Group (SSCG) is planning to expand into the accommodation sector, targeting an island property it owns in the Mamanuca Islands group.
SSCG Chief Executive Officer Brad Rutherford outlined these plans during the AHICE Fiji Investment in Tourism Summit held in Nadi last week.
“We have a wide portfolio across South Sea Cruises,” said Rutherford. “We are now looking at diversifying into accommodation. Much of the current development is concentrated on the mainland. We are focused on the islands and aim to expand our inventory there within the next few years.”
Rutherford expressed optimism about Fiji’s future, highlighting that millions of dollars in investments are already confirmed, with more in the pipeline. “We are a 100 percent Fijian-owned company, held by Fijian Holdings Limited, and there is a lot of confidence in our business,” he added.
Discussing the growth in day trips offered by South Sea Cruises, Rutherford noted significant post-COVID-19 growth. “We have observed a surge in direct bookings and a high interest in new experiences. Our primary customers continue to come from Australia and New Zealand. Fiji has shown remarkable resilience and recovery post-pandemic, and current growth trends are very promising,” he concluded.