Hill Outlines 2023 $3 Billion Target
Tourism Fiji is on an ambitious but achievable plan to get back on track to achieve $3 billion for the industry come next year.
Tourism Fiji chief executive officer Brent Hill made this comment while presenting at the second day of the Fijian Tourism Expo 2022 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau, Nadi yesterday.
He said tourism made up 38 per cent of Fiji’s economy where 36.5 per cent of the total employment came from tourism.
For every 15 international visitors to Fiji, one job was created in the sector, he added.
“When it’s creating a job for somebody, it can also be supporting a family or potentially a number of people back in their home villages as well,” said Mr Hill.
“So from that perspective if you go back to 2019 it meant $3 billion and a total contribution of 12.6 per cent to Fiji’s GDP which is quite significant.”
Other key markets
Mr Hill added there was expectancy of key markets to reopen.
“At the moment in Fiji, you’re looking at Australia, New Zealand, and USA..
“We’re getting very little at the moment from Europe, very little from South Pacific, South Pacific itself was around as a collective was our fourth biggest market because everyone coming to Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands would often come through Fiji.
“So that was one of our really big source markets and we only have one or two of those markets,” said Mr Hill.
“China was a market that was growing with a bullet and we have absolutely zero people coming from China, we don’t have those Hong Kong flights.
“Singapore is just starting. Singapore
really starts to open up Europe for us, which is fantastic.
To the European buyers he said: “A huge welcome. We are starting to see more of buyers coming through Singapore.
“You can (also) come through LA.” In terms of international airlines coming to Fiji, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia and out of New
Zealand with Air New Zealand were also ramping up, he added.
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