The target of hitting a million tourist mark by 2020 now seems more closer for Tourism Fiji with the addition of another plane to our national airline’s fleet.

Tourism Fiji executive chairman, Truman Bradley, said with the addition of 313 additional seats (289 Economy and 24 Business), given a daily flight all year, it would add up to over 100,000 seats per annum.

“I think having a new plane is incredible for Fiji to increase the capacity because that was what we really required,” he said.

“With increased visitor arrival, we increase the economic ability for people to start to earn within the industry, and the tourism industry grows.”

But more aircraft alone won’t help achieve the one million tourist target.

Mr Bradley said: “We need more flights, more capacity, more hotels and more people to work around the industry and benefit from.”

He said figures have already surpassed the 714,000 visitor mark and the target for next year was 750,000 which Mr Bradley is sure can be achieved.

New routes welcome

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, applauded the investment in the new fleet which will not only increase fleet capacity, but see new routes being introduced.

“It is not just tourist numbers we will bring in but a lot of trade we are going to be able to do,” he said.

“I think it helps with our export market because we love our products to be offshore and take it away from Fiji and sold in different parts of the world.

“So it is a good thing for us and San Francisco being also announced is a great addition to Fiji Airways route and great addition to tourism and exports.”

With Fiji Airways flying to Singapore from April, Mr Koya said export potential will open up pathways for us to take it elsewhere in the world.