Good chance of achieving $2b mark
THE tourism industry stands a good chance of achieving $2 billion from its earnings this year and very close to the 2019 preCOVID days.
Local tourism operator Tony Whitton shared this data after what he described this year as an amazing one so far for the industry recovering from the wrath of COVID.
“Almost all tourism workers in 2019 are back to full employment. We will achieve close to 75 per cent of visitor arrivals in 2022 versus 2019,” Mr Whitton said.
“But here is the good news – there is a good chance based on the IVS spends per tourist, with calculations made by Ministry of Tourism that we will achieve tourism earnings very close to the 2019 — $2.0b mark.
“And that is quite extraordinary meaning even though we had less visitors come to Fiji in 2022 versus 2019, these visitors in 2022 spent more and stayed longer so per person spend is higher in 2022 versus 2019.”
The Rosie Travel Group and Ahura Resorts managing director shared that this recent figures was evident by the record intake reported by the tax office and the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s reporting foreign reserves at record high.
He also acknowledged the former government administration, Ministry of Health, Fiji Airways,
Tourism Fiji and all the businesses involved in tourism.
Mr Whitton explained that after 385 days since the reopening of Fiji’s borders, tourism earnings are back to pre-COVID levels.
“And it is this ‘foreign currency’ that our government will use to pay for imports of fuel, raw materials, food, medicine and equipment that are so essential to our economic development.
“Over 35 per cent of all inward remittances come from international visitors visiting Fiji for a holiday or meeting. It still is Fiji’s single most important and largest earner of foreign exchange, providing jobs directly and indirectly to over 100,000 people.
“I remain very optimistic for the New Year. The forward bookings are very strong.”
Mr Whitton said there was a need for more hotel rooms to come online and refurbishment works at Westin and Pullman resorts should be able to address chronic hotel room shortages in 2024.