Tourism Numbers Trending High Post Pandemic

Countries all over the world are seeing an uptick in tourism numbers. Both bucket list trips and local destinations are reporting a high volume of travelers—many reaching pre-covid levels.

Islands, in particular, are seeing a strong resurgence in travel, including the island nation of Fiji.

“We’re seeing incredible visitor numbers for Fiji right now, especially out of the U.S. and Canada markets,” says Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji. “In fact, in December, Fiji’s arrivals were 102% of December 2019 figures globally. The US was 97% of December 2019 numbers and Canada was 135% of December 2019.”

Changing Demographics

“We are seeing some changes in demographics especially for our visitors out of North America. We’ve always been perceived as a luxury honeymoon destination in this market, but we’re seeing a lot more families – especially multi-generational – traveling to Fiji,” says Hill. “Overall, I think a lot of travelers are realizing post covid that they are not willing to wait for those bucket-list type trips, they want to take them now.” He adds that many of these large group bookings are to celebrate missed milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries that happened during the pandemic.

How Travel Bookings Look Different Post Covid

One big change Brent is seeing is shorter booking windows becoming the norm. He notes that he’s seeing travelers book trips from 0-21 days prior to the actual travel dates. “Americans do still tend to book further out than most travelers to Fiji, but we have seen this shrink significantly after covid,” says Brent. “Our visitors are staying longer as well. The average night stay is up to 9.7 nights from 5 nights pre-COVID. The visitor spending is up too, which is incredibly promising for Fiji as tourism accounts for 40% of the country’s GDP.”

Fiji’s traditional busy season has always been June to August, coinciding with Fijian winter and North American summer holidays. But Brent notes that Fiji is seeing more and more travelers coming during the shoulder season, which still has good weather and offers better pricing and availability at hotels. Fiji is also seeing a big uptick in Americans traveling to Fiji over Thanksgiving break.

In terms of what travelers need in order to visit Fiji—they no longer need a negative covid test, but they need to show proof of vaccination and travel insurance.

Every destination has misconceptions about it and Brent explains that Fiji is more affordable than most people think. “Not only do we offer a wide range of accommodations to suit all budgets, but typically many of your resort meals and activities are included in your price too. Also, Fiji is a non-tipping culture, so you are not expected to provide gratuity everywhere you go. Tipping is considered generous and never expected. Lastly, the U.S. dollar is strong in Fiji. Currently, 1 U.S. dollar is equal to 2 Fijian dollars.”

What Are Some Insider Tips?

Visit during low or shoulder season. January – March is traditionally the low season which tends to be wetter, but travelers can also get great rates during this time. It’s also a great time to go diving. Scuba diving is very popular in Fiji, which is why the island is often considered the Soft Coral Capital of the World. Divers can expect vibrant, healthy corals and a flourishing sea life. This country is also home to some of the world’s longest barrier reefs, like the Great Sea Reef and Great Astrolabe reef. There are over 150 PADI dive centers in Fiji, so there is plenty of marine life to explore.