Fiji’s yachting sector delivered a record economic boost in 2025, contributing FJ$57.4 million to the national economy as arrivals of superyachts and charter activity surged, according to the latest Fiji International Yachting Visitors Survey. Total direct yachting expenditure reached FJ$51.9 million in 2025, a 14 per cent increase on 2024, and the sector’s overall contribution was about 23 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
Port Denarau Marina chief executive and Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Yachting and Maritime Subcommittee chair Cynthia Rasch said the figures show yachting’s growing role in Fiji’s visitor economy. “These vessels support marinas, fuel suppliers, transport providers, local markets, provisioning businesses, restaurants, hotels, domestic aviation, marine trades and outer island communities,” Rasch said, adding that the value “reaches well beyond the marina itself.”
The survey recorded 62 superyacht visits in 2025—the highest number since 2019—with a striking rise in average length of stay from 56 days in 2024 to 160 days in 2025. Total superyacht expenditure hit a record FJ$18.75 million, about 49 per cent above 2019 levels, while average spending per superyacht was approximately FJ$250,000. The extended stays are a key driver of local spending, Rasch said, benefiting provisioning, repairs, transport, tourism activities and inter-island travel.
Charter activity has also rebounded strongly following recent regulatory reforms and market development efforts. Verified charter revenue climbed from FJ$246,000 in 2023 to FJ$2.99 million in 2025—an increase of more than 1,100 per cent. The 2025 survey recorded eight charter vessels operating a combined 241 charter days, underscoring the rapid expansion of Fiji’s charter market after policy changes and promotion.
Industry stakeholders say the shift toward longer, higher-spending visits is transforming the yachting sector from a niche service into a higher-value, low-volume tourism product for Fiji. Rasch pointed to the nation’s attractive cruising grounds, island hospitality and cultural warmth as competitive advantages that encourage owners and operators to base vessels in Fijian waters for extended periods.
Looking ahead, analysts forecast the wider yachting sector will surpass FJ$65 million in total economic contribution by the end of 2026, driven by continued growth in superyacht berthing, extended stays and an expanding charter market. For port operators, marine suppliers and tourism businesses across the outer islands, the latest survey underscores both the recovery underway since the pandemic and the sector’s potential to deliver sustained economic benefits.