EACH cruise ship brings in an average of $F305,000 ($US147,000) in spending per port of call with one cruise passenger generating $F90 ($US44) of spending each.
This was according to the International Finance Corporation country manager Tom Jacobs who said cruise tourism contributed $US21.4 million directly to the Fijian economy and the flow on effect or the indirect contribution to the economy was estimated at $US22.7m ($F49.5m).
He revealed the findings on the Assessment of the Economic Impact of Cruise Tourism in Fiji reported about 47 per cent of passengers wanted to spend more in Fiji but they couldn’t which was called “unmet spending opportunities”.
“What we found was that tourism helps all Fijians particularly helps small and medium enterprises develop jobs, youths and women particularly involved in handicrafts and small businesses around tourism,” said Mr Jacobs.
Fiji leads in the tourism industry, attracting more than 40 per cent of all international arrivals in the region.
However, according to Mr Jacobs they had to identify what more could be done to ensure more Fijians were gaining benefits from tourism.
“That is a question on the agenda of the government of Fiji, and also the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Australian government which has been supporting our advisory work in the country.
“Globally we know that tourism is vital to economic growth and development — one in every 10 jobs is now in the travel and tourism industry.
“It is a major employer of youth and women and serves as a major engine for growth of small and medium sized enterprises.”
As per the World Travel and Tourism Council for every dollar spent on travel and tourism, over three dollars was generated in economic output — “stark reminder of the benefits of tourism”, added Mr Jacobs
“With IFC gaining in the world’s leading investor in emerging markets with a mandate to improve people’s lives and invest in private sector companies and create opportunities and create jobs.
“Tourism is much in the centre of what we are trying to do and in in fact essential to our strategy in Fiji which looks at supporting sustainable tourism,” he said.
He added these recommendations also offered a way for the private sector government and cruise tourism companies on their investment through this study.
The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes said through the Australia, IFC partnership the International Finance Corporation had been supporting the work for the Ministry Industry Trade and Tourism to ensure Fiji remained a global tourism leader.
He said through the concerted efforts from the Government and Fiji’s dynamic private sector visitor arrivals continued to increase year on year.
“There also has been a strong growth in the number of cruise ships visiting Fiji, I am surprised to learn that cruise tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the world,” he said, adding Australia had one of the fastest growing outbound tourist markets in the world.
