In September 2024, approximately 16,122 residents left Fiji, as reported by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS). The majority of these departures, 14,864 or 92.2 percent, were for short-term absences lasting less than three months. Additionally, 451 individuals, representing 2.8 percent, left for a period longer than three months but within a year, while 807 residents (5.0 percent) departed for a longer-term absence of one year or more.
Among those departing for short-term reasons, 835 individuals sought employment opportunities abroad, with planned durations of stay ranging from three months to five years. The predominant reasons for short-term departures included holidays (54.1 percent), visiting friends or relatives (35.0 percent), business (5.5 percent), education or training (2.0 percent), and others (2.0 percent).
In regard to visitor trends, provisional data indicated that September 2024 set a record for tourist arrivals in the month, totaling 92,591. This figure reflects a 2.4 percent increase from the same period the previous year, although it shows a slight decline of 2.3 percent when compared to August 2024, which had welcomed 94,787 visitors. Of the tourists, the vast majority (91,679) arrived by air, while 912 arrived by sea, primarily as seamen on fishing vessels.
Most visitors (81.6 percent) came to Fiji for holiday purposes, while 8.0 percent visited friends or relatives, and 2.0 percent traveled for business reasons.
These statistics highlight a blend of short-term and long-term movements among Fiji residents, as well as a thriving tourism sector attracting both local and international visitors. This combination could indicate a positive trend for the economy and cultural exchange in the region. The growth in visitor numbers demonstrates Fiji’s appeal, suggesting robust potential for future tourism development.
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