Tourism earnings to fall $50m

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, December 02, 2009

TOURISM, Fiji's largest foreign exchange earner, is expected to earn $50m less this year than last year.

The 2010 Budget estimates tourism arrivals to be 540,000 - about 45,000 less than 2008; earnings are expected to drop from $853.1m to $802.4m at the end of this year.

The industry received a budget of $23.5m for its 2010 operations and $500,000 for marketing in Asia.

This week, Air Pacific will start direct flights to Hong Kong and is expected to boost the Asia market with the connection.

The route will benefit the European market, particularly London.

The Government, meanwhile, is expected to introduce a Tourism Management Act.

Last week, Fiji Islands Hotels and Tourism Association chairman Dixon Seeto said the Government had listened to the industry calls for the Fiji Visitors Bureau to have a "roll-over" budget over three years.