As an area saying goes, Fiji is a spot “where happiness comes naturally”. Travel buyers and journalists learned details of just how lucky things have been here over the past 12 months on the annual Fiji Tourism Exchange event last week. Visitor numbers for 2024 are already up 11% in comparison with 2023, and last 12 months’s nearly a million visitors represented a brand new record for the island nation, representing nearly $1.5 billion in revenue for the country.
The USA, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan are the highest markets. Growth from China, Canada, Europe and the UK is powerful. National carrier Fiji Airways is the country’s largest inbound airline and continues its growth strategy with latest Airbus A350 aircraft and a growing variety of North American destinations.
The stopover program also encourages travelers to remain within the country en path to the remaining of the network (travel from North America via Fiji to Australia and New Zealand continues to extend). Visitors can not sleep to 72 hours without paying additional taxes or fees.
Tourism Fiji CEO Brett Hill says Fiji’s people, mountain and beach scenery and a growing variety of resorts are driving growth. Particular demographics which have experienced a resurgence include adventure travelers and people with disposable income between the ages of 30 and 50. Hill’s goal is to proceed to construct on this success in the approaching years.
Melissa Pomeroy, director of Fiji Vacations and nicknamed the “Fiji Queen,” agrees. She grew up in Fiji as a toddler and has been to the Pacific island nation greater than 100 times. Now she helps travelers plan the right vacation based on their budget and interests while sharing videos in regards to the destination herself Youtube channel.
According to Pomeroy, who has visited every resort in Fiji, most Americans prefer the outer islands for his or her nature and adventure experiences, although there’s something to suit every budget (and even every loyalty program preference).
No matter where people stay, hoteliers have worked hard to remain top of mind with visitors. These are a number of the latest updates for 2024.
OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort
After a multi-million dollar renovation accomplished in late 2023, the 40-acre OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort, which participates within the DISCOVERY loyalty program, has added several latest amenities to the property. As certainly one of the biggest resorts within the country, the hotel is amazingly popular with families, with 75% of its business coming from multigenerational groups or parents with children. New to the resort include a waterslide on the foremost pool, 16 newly upgraded premium offices and a brand new premium ocean view room category equipped with Talai butler service. The adventure park has been renovated with activities akin to paintball, archery, golf driving range and Fijian experiences akin to coconut shelling and weaving classes. Also latest to the resort is a virtual reality experience with 23 games for families to play together. The resort offers a free kids’ club and free nanny services.
Waya Island Resort
The newest resort to open in Fiji, adults only Waya Island Resort within the Yasawa Islands is hidden in a bay surrounded by a dramatic volcanic mountain peak landscape. Although it’s brand latest, the plush landscaping and mature trees are the results of the owner’s impressive patience. He bought the land 16 years ago and waited for the landscape to completely develop before opening the resort in late 2023. This month it opened its luxurious Grand Villa with butler service and personal dining room. It will probably be the one property to incorporate all meals and drinks in a free minibar and has its own plunge pool.
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
One of the latest resorts in Fiji, IHG One Rewards members have an alternative choice in paradise. The Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Located on Wailoaloa Beach, the property features seven swimming pools, including one for adults and one for families. Another wing will soon be built with two-bedroom suites and bunk beds. There are currently 108 rooms available for booking, an additional 130 will follow this summer and 88 more by the tip of the 12 months. Other notable additions include an in-pool swim-up bar and a kids’ club. Since the hotel opened its own 900-seat convention center, the destination now has one other large meeting venue.
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
Another IHG hotel near Nadi is that this InterContinental, and it recently launched a significant sustainability push across its operations. The company has switched from plastic room keys to bamboo keys, saving an estimated 10,000 plastic cards from ending up in landfills. Digital displays in guest rooms enable touchscreen access to hotel information and replace paper collateral. The revolutionary Litter for a Latte program encourages guests to affix staff in beach cleanups every Saturday morning to choose up trash over a cup of coffee. Every guest who returns with a bag of trash receives a voucher for 2 beers or a glass of wine. Also latest are an herb garden on the spa, underwater coral planting safaris for guests, and a partnership with Fijian makers Portion Pak and NGO Rise Beyond the Reef for eco-friendly takeaway coffee cups.
The sister hotel Grand Pacific Hotel Suva within the capital Suva has also undergone a significant renovation to bring it as much as InterContinental standards.
Likuliku Lagoon Resort
As the one resort in Fiji to feature open plan overwater villas (popularly called “Bures”), Likuliku Lagoon Resort attracts a big number of holiday makers on the lookout for the postcard-perfect views within the outer Mamanucas. Last 12 months we worked hard to equip the guest rooms with latest textiles, but additionally to upgrade the technology with latest smart TVs with sound bars and espresso machines. The latest bottling facility allows the corporate to filter and bottle its own still and carbonated water and eliminate using plastic bottles. Perhaps most significantly, it continues to take a position in its sustainability foundation to assist local landowners improve the variety of fish species in the world and replenish the corals across the resort.
Royal Davui Island Resort
This summer, a significant renovation of the 16 adults-only villas will probably be accomplished Royal Davui Island Resort. Furnishing updates will probably be featured within the accommodations and dining areas, in addition to latest cabanas and poolside seating. This resort is the just one in Fiji with plunge pools in all villas. Inside the restaurant, latest rattan chandeliers complement owner Christopher Southwick’s recently added 3D artwork.
Uprising Beach Resort
This Pacific Harbor resort is doubling the variety of accommodations and planning a significant expansion across the property. Uprising Beach Resort includes the development of a sports center, a beach nightclub over the water, a shopping mall with Fijian boutiques and an activity center for team constructing activities. A brand new water park with a marina and motorized water sports events in addition to a chapel for weddings are within the works.
Marriott Bonvoy renovations and updates
Marriott Bonvoy is that leading hotel brand in Fiji with five properties throughout the country. New to the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort are beachfront cabanas and 6 bartenders to assist redesign the drinks menu. A brand new wine and whiskey lounge was also opened. The neighboring Sheraton Denarau Villas property will begin a renovation project in late 2024. Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, the one mainland property with overwater villas, has added electric vehicles and charging stations, a brand new giant conch shell sanctuary and weekly sustainability programming for guests with activities like mangrove planting and coral gardening. Surfers from the World Surf League can even be guests throughout the Championship Tour this 12 months.
Currently, Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island and Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa are closed for renovations. The opening is planned for the tip of the 12 months or starting of 2025.
Visitors who’re conversant in other hotel brands also can look ahead to it. Coming soon to Fiji will probably be a brand new Hilton Garden Inn in Suva and a Radisson Blu Mirage Resort on Fiji’s Naisoso Island.