Tourist numbers to arrive into Fiji in 2023 is projected at 760,231, states the Ministry of Economy in its Medium Term Fiscal Strategy 2024-2026 that was tabled in Parliament last week. This will be 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
“Given that tourism accounts for roughly 40 per cent of GDP, a quick tourism recovery is critical for our wider recovery prospects,” states the MOE. “Better-than-expected rebound in visitor arrivals in 2022 suggests that last year’s growth estimate is slightly upward biased.”
“In 2022, visitor arrivals totaled 636,312 about 71 per cent of pre-pandemic levels with relatively higher yields supporting strong growth in tourism earnings.”
“Based on current trends and encouraging feedback from industry stakeholders, visitor arrivals are projected to reach 760,231 or 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by 2023, with a full return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.”
A further growth of 3.0 per cent is projected for 2025, said the ministry. “With the projected recovery in tourism and related sectors in the medium term, a broad-based growth of 6.0 per cent is forecast for 2023, followed by 3.8 per cent in 2024 and 2.4 per cent in 2025.
”However, downside risks to these forecasts have increased with the impending global recession and subsequent slowdown in Fiji’s major tourism source markets.”
