Tourism Sector achieves 3.16 million visitor arrivals in '18
Suva, June 28 2019- 2018 was a favorable year for the regional tourism sector due to favourable performances that saw a total of 3.16 million visitor arrivals during the year, according to South Pacific Tourism Organisation Chief Executive Officer, Chris Cocker.
“Of these, air arrivals were 2.14 million in 2018, 1.6% above 2017 while sea arrivals, mainly cruise were 1.02 million,” said Mr.Cocker while releasing the South Pacific Tourism Organisation 2018 Annual Visitor Arrivals Report.
The Report also noted that Pacific tourism receipts or visitor spending in destinations contributed US$3.8 billion or 11.1% to the region’s GDP and generated 131,010 jobs placing the tourism sector as a key driver of economic growth and employment creation for the Pacific Islands.
Highlights of the 2018 Annual Visitor Arrivals Report include:
• In terms of air arrivals,
Fiji continues as a popular destination, accounting for
40.7%, French Polynesia 10.1%, Cook Islands 7.9%, Samoa
7.8%, Papua New Guinea (PNG) 5.7%, New Caledonia 5.6%,
Vanuatu 5.4% and Palau at 5.0%.
• For total visitor
arrivals (both air and cruise), Fiji led with 33.1%, New
Caledonia followed at 18.1% whilst Vanuatu was third at
11.1%.
• Air arrivals by key source markets rose by
13.5% with Europe, USA and New Zealand leading growth at
11.7%, 8.9% and 4.4%, respectively in 2018.
• Australia
and New Zealand continued to dominate tourist arrivals at
50.7%. USA followed at 10.5%, Europe 9.7%, Other Asia 7.7%
and Pacific Islands at 7.1% share.
• 64.9% of tourists
were in the region for leisure whilst visiting friends and
relatives (VFR) represented 13.9% and business
12.1%.
• National tourism budgets for Pacific Island
Countries in 2018 were US$105.75 million. Of this, marketing
and promotion accounted for 56.7 of the total budget.
The 2018 Annual Visitor Arrivals Report is an annual SPTO publication for member countries and private sector members. The Report provides detailed analysis on tourist arrivals by destinations, source markets, air and cruise arrivals and earnings. Figures are derived from reports provided by the National Statistics Offices and the National Tourism Offices of SPTO member countries.
The report is available to SPTO
member countries and private sector members. To access the
report, please contact
membership@spto.org.