Tourism rake $805 mIllIon In fivE montHs
THE local tourism industry raked in $805 million between April to August this year according to preliminary findings by the Fiji’s International Visitor Survey. The study highlighted that visitors spent $271 per person per night, which was up considerably by 12 percent from the average $242 spent in 2019, over the same five months.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Commerce, Trade, Transport and Tourism, Faiyaz Koya, while handing over a newly constructed office facility to the Tavoro Forest Park Cooperative Limited in Taveuni.
Minister Koya said tourism continues to flourish and the new structure, which would house a boutique, dining lounge and restroom facilities, would attract more tourists to visit the Tavoro Falls, causing a ripple effect in the local economy.
“If more tourists come here, they bring money to spend here, meaning that everyone benefits, from the transport that picks up the tourists from the airport or wharf, to the farmers that produce vegetables and root crops, to the fisher folk that catch fish, everyone benefits,” Minister Koya said.
“This means, more money in your pocket, meaning you can easily afford to put food on the table, send your children to school and universities, and improve your homes.”
Minister Koya added that soft adventure tourism and nature-based tourism was one the fastest growing market segments globally, and statistics show that in 2019, close to 20 per cent of tourists travelled to the North for this experience. “Tavoro Forest Park harbours rushing waterfalls, colourful bird species, deep lush vegetation, which is soothing to the mind, body and the spirit,” he said.
“Such unique Tourist attraction sites and the Fijian hospitality positions Fiji on a more competitive edge compared to other tourist destinations.” Minister Koya urged the resource owners who form the cooperative to ensure that the forest park and falls were not exploited.
“I would like to remind the Tavoro Forest Park Co-operative Limited and community at large, that you need to take full ownership of the business and ensure that it flourishes and grows,” he said.
“You need to look after the facility and maintain it, when need be, as it is our responsibility to see that it is not exploited or damaged at any point.” The facility was constructed at a cost of $89,995 through the public private partnership where Government paid two third while the cooperative paid one third.