Tourism in Fiji is set to reach new heights with projections estimating a $4 billion industry and over one million visitors annually by 2027. Brent Hill, the chief executive officer of Tourism Fiji, discussed these ambitious goals at the recent Fiji-Australia and Australia-Fiji Business Councils Joint Forum in Suva.
Hill highlighted a significant growth opportunity, stating, “Tourism 2.0 presents a billion-dollar opportunity.” He elaborated that the current tourism revenue, approximately $3.2 billion, could increase by around $925 million over the next four years, thus establishing a visitor economy valued at $4.24 billion.
He urged government support for tourism, asking where else a billion dollars could be generated over the same period, and noted the excitement surrounding upcoming infrastructure projects that will underpin this growth.
Reflecting on past trends, Hill mentioned that when he arrived in Fiji three and a half years ago, visitor numbers from Australia were only growing by one percent annually. However, by 2019, the number of Australian tourists visiting Fiji surged to 367,000. This figure rose to 434,000 last year and is expected to reach approximately 450,000 this year, marking a 22 percent increase since 2019.
Tourism Fiji anticipates that visitor arrivals will surpass one million by 2027, bolstered by Fiji Airways’ new direct flights to Dallas, projected to bring an additional 50,000 visitors from the US, Europe, and South America. Additionally, there are plans for Fiji Airways to expand its services to four new Australian airports, further enhancing growth prospects for the tourism sector.