Tourist arrivals in Fiji experienced a downturn in the first five months of 2025, leading to a one percent annual decrease in visitor numbers, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) in its recent Economic Review. Despite an increase in arrivals in May, totaling 86,587 visitors, this year’s overall trend remains negative.
The May figures reflect a 4.4 percent growth compared to the same month last year, driven largely by a rise in visitors from the United States (up 23.7 percent), UK/Europe (31.9 percent), and Canada (26.9 percent). However, this was contrasted by declines from key markets such as Australia, which dipped by 2.7 percent, and New Zealand, where arrivals fell 8.1 percent. Fortunately, arrivals from Pacific Island Countries increased by 17.2 percent and from the US by 11.10 percent, providing some balance to the overall decline.
Apart from tourism, the RBF noted that most sectors showed positive performance in the year to May, except for gold production, which dropped by 16.5 percent due to poor output from the Vatukoula gold mine. In contrast, mineral water production enjoyed a six percent annual growth, attributed to recent capacity expansion by a major producer.
Strong growth was also highlighted in the timber industry, with wood supply increasing by 142.8 percent and sawn timber production rising by 133.9 percent. Notably, mahogany production similarly saw a significant boost, climbing by 91.7 percent. Electricity production remained stable, with a slight 0.1 percent increase, driven largely by the addition of new households to the grid.
In light of these developments, while there are certainly challenges posed by declines from major tourist markets, the notable increases from other regions and the ongoing performance in various sectors provide a hopeful outlook. With continued marketing efforts and targeted recovery strategies, there is the potential for the tourism sector to rebound, especially during the popular travel season from July to September.
This perspective aligns with earlier insights from the RBF, which underscored the importance of sustained momentum in tourism as vital for job creation and economic stability in Fiji.
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