Kiwi visitors to Fiji up again

Issued by Fiji Visitors Bureau

News Release
July 17, 2003.

Kiwi visitors to Fiji up again

Fiji has reported a jump of over 9 percent in New Zealand holidaymakers to the Pacific Islands nation for its latest reporting period.

For May 6161 New Zealanders went to Fiji, up from 5643 in the same period the previous year.

New Zealand director for the Fiji Visitor Bureau, Paresh Pant, said this is the second consecutive month that figures have increased.

In April 5269 Kiwis went to Fiji compared to 4152 in the same month last year.

“We are delighted at the trend. The latest figures are higher than our target by almost 6 percent,” he said.

Mr Pant said that the New Zealand visitor figures for the first three months of the year had been down from 9111 for the same period in 2002 to 7805.

But this reflected a “twitchy” international tourism market facing the issues of the Iraqi war, terrorism and SARS.

In April 5269 Kiwis went to Fiji compared to 4152 in the same month last year.

Mr Pant said Fiji overall was experiencing strong demand from all its international markets.

Total visitors arrivals for May were 31,411, higher by two percent than in the previous year.

Major hotels and resorts still have availability for tourists, despite rumours circulating in the travel industry that Fiji is sold out.

“Fiji is definitely not sold out,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s international airline Air Pacific and Air New Zealand are both adding additional flights to Fiji over the coming months.

ENDS

© Scoop Media