Direct flights between Nadi and Narita, Japan will resume in April this year as the Japanese Government has reasserted its strong support towards the Fiji Government’s efforts in advancing our economy particularly, in the tourism industry, trade and investment sector.
Japan’s support was conveyed to the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka, at an introductory courtesy call from the Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Kawakami Fumihiro.
Fumihiro says the number of Japanese visitors to Fiji in 2019, before the pandemic, was around 15,000, compared to just 854 in 2022.
He adds the highest number of Japanese visitor arrivals to date was around 45,000 in 1995, when Rabuka was in Office, during his first stint as the Leader of Fiji.
The Ambassador says there is still room to increase the number of Japanese tourists to Fiji.
Fumihiro also says that he expects the resumption of direct flights to be an opportunity to encourage Japanese companies to invest in Fiji, in areas of the tourism industry and beyond.
Rabuka thanked the Government and the people of Japan for their tremendous contributions to Fiji and the Pacific, over the years.
He highlighted that Fiji looks forward to further strengthening relations with Japan in the key areas of socioeconomic development.
The Prime Minister also acknowledges the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) cooperation and support provided during times of natural disasters and COVID-19.
On regional cooperation, Rabuka thanked the Japanese Government for supporting the Pacific region, through the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM) process and its commitment to a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
