Australia has produced record tourist arrivals of 198,220 for Fiji for the calendar year 2007, an increase of 0.24 per cent on 2006.
New Zealand arrivals were 100,278, down -7.45 per cent on 2006 and Australia and New Zealand are respectively Fiji’s biggest tourist markets worldwide.
In other markets, the Americas (the United States and Canada) slipped -0.2 per cent.
According to the regional director Australia for the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau, Paresh Pant, the overall performance was excellent given that for most of 2007 Fiji was in a recovery mode after 2006’s military coup.
“While the Australian figures are especially pleasing, cumulatively the market share from these markets was 70.31 per cent for 2007 versus 71.12 per cent in 2006,” Mr Pant said.
“Collectively Australia and New Zealand account for more than 55 per cent of Fiji’s visitors overall.”
A Report by The Mole