Likuliku Lagoon Resort in Fiji. Photo: Supplied/Likuliku Lagoon Resort
Fiji continues to grow its appeal as Australians' holiday destination of choice, despite reports of Aussie travellers finding it difficult to travel abroad.
More than one in three Australian travellers cannot afford to travel abroad due to increasing airfares and a cost-of-living crisis, according to findings released by price comparison site, Finder last month.
But Fiji's national tourist office said it has noted "a decoupling trend where people are still choosing to travel despite economic challenges in other regions".
Tourism Fiji said Australian tourist numbers to the country continue to grow.
"Aussies who visited Fiji in the first five months of 2023 reached an impressive count of 158,755, demonstrating their unwavering love for our beautiful destination," it said via a statement to RNZ Pacific.
"Their estimated spending of around $FJ560 million ($US245-million) not only showcases their commitment to experiencing the best of Fiji but also highlights the significant contribution of Australian visitors to our tourism industry."
It said Fiji was ranked among the top 10 countries for Australian travellers considering a vacation in the next three years.
"Visitor arrivals from Australia to Fiji are experiencing positive trends and increasing in popularity," it said
Australia remains Fiji's primary source market with more than 345,000 or 54 percent of total arrivals from Down Under in 2022, with New Zealand in second with over 154,000 arrivals or just over 24 percent total visitors to the island.
The tourism office said bookings for Australians visiting Fiji in the next year have shown "significant growth", indicating a 34.5 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
"These trends highlight the strong demand and enduring appeal of Fiji as a preferred destination for Australian tourists," the office said.
'Trend instills confidence'
The tourism industry is Fiji mainstay, contributing nearly 40 percent of its gross domestic product.
The Covid-19 crisis had decimated the industry, plunging tens of thousands of people the relied on the sector into unemployment.
But with a strong post-Covid recovery with the lifting of international travel restrictions, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the "rebound in tourism catalysed the recovery of other sectors of the economy".
Tourism Fiji said in the first quarter of 2023, the number of arrivals was nearly twice compared to the same period in 2022.
The "positive response from travellers" was evident in Fiji's Visitor Arrivals, "which have shown remarkable growth", it said.
"Fiji's visitor arrival trend instils confidence in reaching our target of attaining 100 percent pre-pandemic levels by 2024.
"However, it is important to emphasise that Fiji's focus extends beyond arrival figures. We prioritise both the quality of visitors and the overall visitor expenditure.
"Our aim is to develop a thriving $3 billion industry, and we are already making substantial progress towards this goal while ensuring sustainability remains at the forefront," it added.