Fiji tourism pays $89m in taxes
The Fiji tourism industry contributes about $89million in taxes annually, it was revealed recently by accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which conducted a survey that was presented at the Fiji Tourism Forum 2007 at the Shangri-La Fijian Resort in Sigatoka last week.
PricewaterhouseCoopers managing partner, Jenny Seeto, said the survey, which was compiled in two weeks, was done through feedbacks from questionnaires sent to 36 properties in the country.
Mrs Seeto said companies such as Fosters Group Limited contributed about $22million in taxes annually.
“Forty per cent of Fosters’ turnover is from the tourism industry and employees,” she said.
Mrs Seeto said Fiji’s three major commercial banks attribute around 15 to 18 per cent of their lending portfolio to the tourism industry. She said the background to the study was due to the comments made by Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority chief executive Tevita Banuve in a press release in April, who said, tourism contributed $30million annually to revenue.
Mrs Seeto said it was obvious tourism played a major part in the economy.
Mr Banuve said FIRCA only determined its figures from lodgments made to it by the tourism players. “The figures from the survey are quite revealing,” he said.
Mr Banuve said taxes such as hotel turnover tax and departure tax did not go to FIRCA. He said FIRCA receives about $35m in taxes from hotels and lodging accommodations.
Fiji Visitors Bureau chief executive Viliame Gavoka said the industry was in general agreement with what PriceWaterhouseCoopers presented.
Mr Gavoka said the contribution of tourism was much greater then what had been reported. “I believe that’s perhaps to do with the way the Government collects and categorises revenue,” Mr Gavoka said.
Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said this was what the industry had been trying to say.
Mr Seeto said as discussed in the forum there was a need to place the Tourism Satellite accounting system to show the full and true extend tourism was to the economy.
“This satellite accounting system should be implemented as soon as possible. I think then this issue will be sorted out,” said Mr Seeto.
“The industry is the life blood of the country today. Imagine Fiji without the tourism industry.”
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026