FIJI VISITOR ARRIVALS BREAK NEW JUNE RECORD

Posted on Tourism Fiji - 27 September 2010

For the third month running Fiji's international tourist arrival numbers have broken new ground with figures released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics this week showing the destination set a new record in June hosting just under 56,000 visitors.

The 55,995 figure achieved for the month easily surpasses the previous highest ever visitor arrival figure - and four-year record - set in June 2006 when Fiji welcomed 52,795 international arrivals

The June 2010 figure brings total arrivals for the year to 272,520 – bang on course for the national tourist office’s target of 600,000. That figure in itself sets a new benchmark for Fiji and in the process eclipses the previous record set for a January-June period in 2008 – a total of 270, 856 - by an additional 1664 visitor arrivals.

An exuberant Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto (picture above right) drew attention to the ongoing strong performance being achieved in Australia which once again smashed all previous visitor figures for a month of June.

Numbers for the period reached a huge 27,651 arrivals - a massive 48.3 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2009. Mr Tuamoto also pointed towards the positive inroads being achieved in the New Zealand and US markets, both of which had registered substantial gains over the six month period with visitor arrival growth increasing exponentially by 16.4 and 9.1 per cent, respectively.

7 Day Belly Bust Diet -  Click Here!

Mr Tuamoto said he was particularly gratified with the national tourist office’s ongoing efforts in several key emerging markets, and in particular China and India which have seen both countries emerge this year as respective eighth and ninth most important sources of visitor arrivals. Visitor arrivals from China increased by 31.3 per cent to reach 7684 for the six month period.

Indian visitor arrivals also climbed impressively reaching 1437, an increase of 28.6 per cent. Mr Tuamoto said traffic from the UK/Europe had also increased by 3 per cent.

"We are still bang on course for the 600,000 'best ever visitor' target we set ourselves last year.” Fiji's best ever international visitor figure remains the 582, 602 benchmark set for the 12 month period January – December 2008.

For further information, contact Tourism Fiji’s Manager Fiji, Ms Fane Vave at fvave@tourismfiji.com.fj or Marketing Officer, Mr. Iowane Naivalurua at inaivalurua@tourismfiji.com.fj

Fiji lacks internet reach

Mary Rauto

FIJI TIMES - Monday, September 20, 2010

FIJI'S Internet penetration rate is only 10 per cent compared 

to smaller countries like Niue, Tokelau and Tuvalu.

Commerce Commission chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said while information and communication technology can have a profound impact on the economic growth and development of a country, ICT development in Fiji did not fare well when compared with our neighbours.

"In terms of Internet penetration, Fiji has a rate of 10.9 per cent as at 30 September 2009," he said.

"However, Australia and New Zealand have 80.1 per cent and 79.7 per cent respectively."

Dr Reddy said the Cook Islands had 42 per cent, French Polynesia 31.4 per cent, Guam 47.6 per cent, Micronesia 14.9 per cent, New Caledonia 37.4 per cent, Niue 62 per cent, Palau 26 per cent, Tokelau 58 per cent and Tuvalu at 34 per cent.

"This is quite worrying stats," he said. "Especially when for international communications, Fiji is directly linked to the Southern Cross Cable Network, a third generation submarine fibre optic cable system with direct links to Australia, New Zealand and the US West Coast via Hawaii."