Fiji’s visitor arrivals for December 2022 surpassed pre-Covid levels with 75,580 visitors landing in Fiji or 102 percent of 2019.
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics says December also recorded the highest ever number of Australian travellers in a month with 42,304 coming to Fiji, exceeding September 2022 which was the previous record.
They say compared to 2019, travellers from Australia were 121 percent , New Zealand 106 percent, US 97 percent and 135 percent from Canada.
The Bureau says the lift in numbers from the US is especially significant as this market is a key focus for both Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways, after the opening of the new Vancouver direct flights.
They say travellers coming for holiday reasons was 120 percent of 2019’s numbers, indicating a strong pull towards tourism.
The total arrivals for 2022 were 636,312 or 71 percent of 2019, a significant result and growth over the year, considering only 11,000 tourist arrivals were recorded in February last year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka says reaching 2022 visitor arrivals targets was outstanding and noteworthy.
He says he is grateful to our people from the arrival concourse to hotels, restaurants and grassroots communities for their dedication in promoting Fiji and the Fijian culture.
Gavoka says everyone has a part to play in our success and adds the best of travel and tourism is ahead of us.
Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill says it is encouraging to see the December numbers for tourist arrivals as well as a record number of Australians in Fiji.
He says he is also really pleased to see New Zealand, US and Canada numbers all so strong, which is a testament to the continued hard work of the industry.
Hill adds 2023 is looking really solid with the opening of China and Japan, and direct flights via Fiji Airways opening in April.
