Page 21 - IB April 2018

Pacific Tourism Report

Fiji is the Pacific’s top at 2.9per cent.
Federated States of Micronesia with
30,060 arrivals at 1.4 per cent, Solomon
Islands with 25,700 at 1.2 per cent, Ameri-
tourist destination still can Samoa with 19,987 arrivals at 0.9 per
cent, Niue with 9,889 arrivals at 0.5 per
cent, Kiribati with 5,663 arrivals at 0.3 per
cent, Marshall Island with 5,202 arrivals
at 0.2 per cent, Nauru with 3,002 arrivals
at 0.1per cent and Tuvalu with 2,5230
arrivals with 0.1 per cent.
Cocker said the difference in arrivals
among the countries in the region reflected
the gap in terms of tourism develop-
By Mereseini Marau-Totoka ments, tourism product variety, source
markets, infrastructure, connectivity and
FIJI is still the number one tourist destina- geographical settings.
tion in the Pacific region attracting a little He also attributed it to the level of
over 840,000 visitors last year with a total international marketing and promotions
estimated earnings of US$4.3 billion from Fiji’s tourism resilience has contributed mainly to its between the countries in the regions and
all countries in the region. success story. Photo: File tourist source markets.
And authorities are projecting a 2.2 mil- The total earnings for 2016 was US$3
lion tourist arrivals to the region by 2020. billion.
The provisional tourist arrivals for the From the 18 countries,11 are World
18 member countries of the South Pacific month named as one of the world’s most Bank members.
Tourism Organisation is 2.13million for improved airports during the Skytrax 2018 They are Papua New Guinea (PNG),
2017. World Airport Awards held in Stockholm, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga,
Fiji’s visitor arrivals increased by 6.4 Sweden. Samoa, Kiribati, Palau, Marshall Islands
per cent last year due to strong growth Fiji’s national airline- Fiji Airways, (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia
in tourist arrivals from New Zealand, the its subsidiaries Fiji Link and Pacific Call (FSM) and Tuvalu
United States of America and Australia. Comm Limited plus a 38.75 per cent In a World Bank Report on Tourism in
Cumulative to February, visitor arrivals stake in the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on 2040 - Bringing an additional one mil-
rose by 2.4per cent led by increased ar- Denarau Island which are all part of the lion visitors per year to paradise, those
rivals from New Zealand, US, Continental Fiji Airways Group recently announced 11 countries received 1.37 million visitor
Europe and China. its highest ever profit before tax of arrivals in 2014. The five most popular
This was confirmed by the Reserve Bank FJ$95.8million or US$47.09million for the destination countries in 2013 were also
of Fiji in its March Economic Review. fiscal year that ended December 31, 2017. the top five in 2014.
Way ahead of all other Pacific Island It was a 13.4 per cent increase from the The only change was Palau which
countries in terms of tourist arrivals, it is previous fiscal year. jumped from fifth to third place due to a
Fiji’s tourism resilience and solid growth Fiji’s Attorney General who is also the rapid increase in Chinese visitors. Fiji was
from Asia, China and New Zealand mar- line Minister for Civil Aviation Aiyaz overwhelmingly the most popular destina-
kets that contributed to Fiji’s success story. Sayed-Khaiyum said that for a country tion, having received more visitors in 2013
South Pacific Tourism Organisation that’s very heavily dependent on tourism, than all of the other countries combined.
chief executive officer Christopher Cocker it is critically important to have a very The same was true for 2014, although
attributed Fiji’s lead to active post Winston healthy national carrier. arrivals data were not available for Kiribati
recovery campaigns by the Fiji tourism He said it was a proud achievement for and Marshall Islands.
industry. the airline and the entire nation. These two countries combined received
It was the joint marketing efforts by With the provisional data provided by 11,258 arrivals in 2013.
the Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji with the SPTO, French Polynesia is on second spot For 2014 international arrivals to Fiji
industry that boosted the high arrivals. with 9.40 per cent of total arrivals in the totalled 100,000 more than all of the other
The surge in other Asian markets region with 161, 362 tourist arrivals. countries combined. None of the other
was also triggered by the increased di- Cook Islands is on third spot with 7.5 destinations grew as quickly as Fiji. In
rect flights to new destinations such as per cent of total arrivals with 161,362 fact, declines were recorded for Vanuatu,
Singapore that connects other booming visitor arrivals. Solomon Islands and FSM. Initial reports of
Asian markets such as India, Korea and Samoa records 155,098 visitor arrivals arrivals for 2015 show very strong growth
Malaysia. at 7.3 per cent, Papua New Guinea with since 2014 for Fiji and Palau, at 9 per cent
The establishment of new market links, 142, 943 arrivals at 6.7per cent, Palau and 19.3 per cent, respectively.
increase in air service agreements, flight with 122,726 arrivals at 5.7per cent. New Tonga continued to grow steadily with
routes and schedules and the upgrading Caledonia records 120,697 at 5.6 per cent, a 6.6 per cent increase. As anticipated,
of the Nadi International Airport also con- Timor Leste with 119,432 arrivals at 5.6 Vanuatu saw a decrease of 17.2 per cent in
tributed to the increase in tourist arrivals. per cent, Vanuatu with 106,338 arrivals at the wake of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
Nadi International Airport was last 5 per cent and Tonga with 62,434 arrivals r mememarau@gmail.com

Islands Business, April 2018 21