Fiji Tourism Industry

The breathtaking natural beauty that lies amidst the islands of Fiji has made the island among the most visited places for blissful escapes. The stunning azure waters that lap the islands, the awe-inspiring coral reefs that lay beneath its clear waters, the tropical gardens that color the island with beauty, and of course, the smiling friendly faces of the Fijian people that makes one feel instantly at home - all these remarkable qualities of the island have contributed to the rich Fiji tourism industry, which is one of its biggest income sources.

The Fiji tourism industry has positively grown over the last ten years and has become a very important source for the country's jobs, as well as a main source for foreign exchange incomes since 1990, exceeding that of the export sugar industry at that time. Visitors of Fiji generate about twenty-five percent of the total foreign exchange receipts, plus the Fiji tourism industry is estimated to produce about seventeen percent of GDP.

In 2003, the country's visitor arrivals summed-up to four-hundred-thirty-thousand-eight-hundred tourists, which was higher than its previous year of visitors (397,875 in 2002). The biggest market of Fiji tourism industry is Australia, providing about twenty-nine percent of tourists. New Zealand follows on the list, with about eighteen percent of visitors, along with other significant tourism market which includes US (fifteen percent), Britain (ten percent), Japan (nine percent), Continental Europe (seven percent), and Canada (three percent).

The success of Fiji tourism industry is reliant on the promotion of a friendly, clean, relaxing environment, along with various natural attractions. However, the recent coup that once again faced the country on December 5, 2006 has severely damaged Fiji tourism industry; the Visitors Bureau of Fiji has stated that it will require much time, hard work, and money to recover from the current coup.

The resorts of Fiji have reported cancellations on their guest's reservations after the military takeover. Nevertheless, its Visitors Bureau has reassured tourists that the political conflicts in Suva is way far from famous tourist spots such as Nadi or Coral Coast, which is located on the major island of Viti Levu, or those on the northern islands tourist areas of Taveuni and Vanua Levu.

Despite the political instability of Fiji that has greatly affected its tourism industry and the country's national income as well, Fiji's tourism bureau is positive that its tourism industry will pull through and be back on track in no time.