In that very same 12-month interval, Australians made up 41 per cent of the entire guests, New Zealanders 28 per cent, and the US and Canada contributed 13 per cent.
With such a strong rebound in reputation, lodge, resort and tour firms are all now scrambling to improve or introduce new product as a way to seize the brand new alternatives and speed up the upturn.
Among the many upcoming modifications are a multi-million-dollar renovation of Outrigger Fiji on the Coral Coast, an hour and a half south of Nadi, plans for a second Radisson Blu lodge on Naisaso Island, and the constructing of the primary Crowne Plaza Resort within the nation, a large conversion of the outdated Pullman Nadi Bay.
Outrigger Fiji Seashore Resort’s newly revamped bures.
“We have been getting nice momentum with guests earlier than COVID, nevertheless it’s completely exploded and goes from energy to energy,” says Matt Tripolone, managing director, Australasia and Pacific, IHG Inns and Resorts, who’ll be opening the 326-room Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa in March 2024.
“We’re seeing nice progress in each leisure and household journey and likewise enterprise journey and incentives, whereas lots of people are actually looking for area of interest luxurious experiences,” says Tripolone.
The lodge could have seven eating places and bars, together with a whiskey bar, a seashore membership, and a day spa, all on a stretch of seashore that’s “near the airport but nonetheless fairly non-public”.
“Demand for Fiji is unquestionably growing and there are much more flights obtainable there, too,” says Tripolone.
It’s an identical outlook for Lachlan Hoswell, managing director for Australasia improvement for the Radisson Resort Group. He believes holidaymakers are actually looking for extra pure experiences in lovely island and water settings, with pleasant locals.
Plans for a trendy seashore membership are underway at Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa.
Consequently, building is simply beginning on the brand new 250-suite and residence Radisson Blu lodge, with completion possible early in 2026.
“It’ll tick loads of packing containers as individuals can fly in and inside 10 minutes be sitting by the lagoon pool overlooking the ocean and the white sandy seashore,” Hoswell says. “You don’t should land after which journey for 2 hours to get there.”
Fiji has developed on this approach to make it extra fascinating, in accordance with Hoswell.
“There are actually some fairly particular resorts there, with a contemporary luxurious really feel, however life there’s nonetheless at a relaxed tempo. I see it as having a fantastic future and I’m definitely on the lookout for extra alternatives there,” says Hoswell.
The Outrigger Hospitality Group can also be investing vastly in its two resorts within the nation. It lately renovated the 253 rooms and bures for Outrigger Fiji; added amenities to its journey park together with a golf driving vary, archery and paintball course; expanded its children’ program; and launched island-hopping to its non-public island resort Castaway Island within the Mamanuca Islands.
Waya Island Resort has simply opened within the Mamanucas with simply 17 bures.
“The nation is rebuilding properly and the long run stays thrilling,” says Ben Johnson, Outrigger’s director of gross sales and advertising and marketing, who anticipates continued progress from all areas together with Australia.
“Fiji has nice capability for additional progress by way of tourism and resorts and there’s no present concern of over tourism for my part. With 333 islands, there are numerous locations to flee and lots of villages that might like to see a smiling vacationer go to.”
With extra vacationers now than locals – 880,738 within the 12 months to August 2023 in comparison with 863,000 residents – others have expressed fears of over tourism. However the Fijian authorities has been eager to grab the higher hand within the debate early on with the launch of a 10-year nationwide sustainable tourism framework that can adapt international finest practices and drive tourism whereas anticipating future wants.
“We wish our future generations to reap the exact same advantages as our individuals and guests do right now,” says Fiji’s deputy prime minister and tourism minister Viliame Gavoka.
Many long-time operators, like Captain Cook dinner Cruises, additionally oversee their very own sustainability protocols, planting extra coral, tidying garbage and educating each guests and locals in holding the surroundings pristine. It’s additionally enabling them to increase their operations too, providing a better number of experiences – and sometimes with a better diploma of luxe.
Captain Cook dinner Cruises has simply introduced of their luxurious small ship MS Caledonian Sky to exchange their outdated Reef Endeavour to raise their vessels to a brand new stage, with greater suites and personal decks, themed journeys like yoga and wellness, and visits to extra distant places.
“Our cruises are the one approach you possibly can attain a few of these islands, so Australians can uncover there’s much more to Fiji than they ever knew earlier than,” says Captain Cook dinner Cruises Fiji government chair Allison Haworth West. The corporate is making ready to launch a brand new itinerary from April 2024 she says will “actually open up Fiji”.
Floating pontoon Seventh Heaven Fiji is now providing in a single day stays.
“It’ll imply diving on reefs nobody has ever dived on earlier than, seashores that nobody’s ever swum off, an perception into completely different cultures and kinds of structure, and villages that nobody has visited earlier than,” says West. “We’re attempting to create a brand new, undiscovered bucket listing vacation spot, just like the Kimberley.”
There’s heaps extra island-hopping being supplied; Fiji’s two-level floating pizza bar Cloud 9 is now introducing its personal ferry plus two extra boats for rent to journey across the islands. Proprietor Bar’el Wachtel says, in these varieties of the way, Fiji is now extending its enchantment.
“Australians and New Zealanders have at all times cherished it however now we’re seeing the Chinese language market again too,” he says.
There’s lots to draw them too, with one other floating pontoon Seventh Heaven Fiji providing in a single day stays, building simply beginning on the $153 million (FJ$230 million) enlargement of the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, scheduled to finish in late 2026, and a brand new solar-powered island resort being constructed by Silent Yachts off Taveuni.
On the prime finish, for adults solely, the brand new Waya Island Resort has simply opened within the Mamanucas with simply 17 bures, whereas romantic packages are being launched within the Lomani Island Resort.
Lomani Island Resort is luring {couples} with romantic packages.
Even small enterprises like Ecotrax, which has been working e-bike carriage journeys alongside the outdated disused sugar cane rail strains since 2018, is now doubling capability to satisfy surging demand.
“We have now to show away so many bookings, we’re now growing our fleet so we will do 4 excursions a day as a substitute of two,” says proprietor Mandy de Vries, whose enterprise took off after it was featured in an episode of the TV present Bachelor in Paradise Australia.
“It’s going amazingly properly and we don’t see any finish in sight. Fiji is such an excellent vacation spot and, as increasingly more individuals come right here, we will solely see it enhancing and growing in reputation.”