Construction Boom

Fiji’s tourism sector is unrivalled for its economic contribution and growth, an industry leader said.

No other sector in Fiji offers the opportunity to grow by up to $1.4 billion over the next three to years, like tourism, said Tourism Fiji chief executive officer, Brent Hill.

With growth in spend by tourists, the new hotels and refurbishments coming on stream, there was an opportunity to match the capacity uplift by national carrier Fiji Airways, to bring in more tourists to Fiji, which provided economic riches to our country, he said.

He was reacting to claims from certain quarters that tourism was a band-aid for the economy.

“We reject that notion absolutely that our sector should be somehow questioned for its value,” Mr Hill lashed out.

“Tourism in Fiji is incredibly important and will be for time immemorial.

“It remains the highest source of private sector employment in Fiji.

“As it grows, it provides important tax revenue to the Government, lease payments to landowners, and returns for investors.”

This amid revelation that the sector was shovel-ready, with more than two dozen projects ready to commence.

Mr Hill said 75 per cent of Fiji’s tourism assets were locally owned.

“With tourism performing so well since reopening post-COVID, the interest in investing, has seen several projects committed to Fiji,” he said.

“Those projects ensure that we provide jobs for construction workers, logistics, transport, retail, and many more.”

Mr Hill attributed the current construction boom to the $1.5 billion-plus worth of tourism-related investments that poured in.

“That construction boom is mostly through the over $1.5 billion worth of investment that is coming to Fiji, as a result of tourism,” he said.

Construction Industry Council president Gordon Jenkins was not available for comment when this edition went to print.

Meanwhile, Mr Hill said the role of tourism could not be understated for its economic contribution.

“We saw the devastating effects of not having tourism during the dark times of COVID, where Fiji’s economic contraction was in the top handful in the world,” he said.

“Tourism as a sector is not a ‘band-aid’, which suggests that there are other sectors that are somehow more important, or that Fiji can one day not rely on tourism.”

Many sectors in Fiji require heavy Government investment or servicing of debt, which was not the case in tourism, he said.

“I believe whole-heartedly in its future and vital role that it plays for Fiji.”

He resounded recent calls by the central bank to invest in tourism, given Fiji’s reliance on the sector.

“As an industry, we also believe and support the growth of complimentary sectors,” Mr Hill said.

A strong tourism sector provided a large market for the domestic agricultural sector, he said.

“It provides outlets and shoppers for our retail sector, opportunity for our commercial and manufacturing sectors, and a heavy consumer of motor vehicles, water, electricity and the like,” Mr Hill said.

“We are also a leading source of sustainability and sustainable projects in Fiji.

“Much of the solar projects, water harvesting, and plastic reduction, is in the tourism industry.

“Rather than being a band-aid sector or having its role questioned, tourism should be embraced by Fiji as the leading source of our economic prosperity, now and into the future.”

Without tourism, Fiji Airways and its 2500 employees would fold, Mr Hill said.

“Our world class airline, ranked in the top 15 in the world, could not operate without tourism or a growing sector.”

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