Pacific Harbour targets bigger tourism returns

Pacific Harbour is positioning itself to become more than a day-trip destination, with tourism operators being urged to work together to keep visitors in the region longer and increase the economic benefits flowing to local businesses and communities.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka said this was increasingly important as Fiji moves towards a record tourism milestone, with visitor arrivals forecast to reach 1,003,283 in 2026.

Mr Gavoka made the remarks on Saturday while officially opening the Adventure Capital Exhibition 2026 at The Pearl Resort & Spa.

He said the focus for Fiji's tourism industry should now extend beyond visitor numbers to how much visi­tors spend, how long they stay and how widely the benefits are shared.

"Prosperity confined to a handful of towns or provinces is not pros­perity at all," Mr Gavoka said.

The exhibition brings together land, river and ocean tour opera­tors, resorts, dive specialists, con­servation groups, transport pro­viders and travel agents, creating opportunities for businesses to develop partnerships and attract more visitors. The goal is to estab­lish Pacific Harbour as Fiji's pre­mier adventure tourism hub rather than a destination visitors pass through on a day trip.

Mr Gavoka said connecting small tour operators and eco-tourism businesses with major resorts and travel agents could help turn busi­ness opportunities into bookings and employment.

"These are the connections that turn a good idea into a booking and a booking into a livelihood," he said.

For local operators, stronger part­nerships could create opportunities to package different tourism experiences, encourage visitors to extend their stays and increase spending across the region.

Mr Gavoka also emphasised that the long-term value of Fiji's tour­ism industry depended on protect­ing the natural attractions that draw visitors to the country.

"Our reefs, rivers and forests are more than the backdrop to our product. They are the product," he said.

He said Government would sup­port tourism operators through the National Sustainable Tourism Framework 2024-2034 and the Tour­ism Act 2026, providing a frame­work for investment and sustain­able industry growth.

Mr Gavoka acknowledged the ex­hibition's partners and sponsors, including Lawhill Fiji, as well as Tourism Fiji for its international marketing work.

The exhibition provides a plat­form for businesses across the tour­ism sector to build commercial re­lationships and strengthen Pacific Harbour's position in Fiji's grow­ing adventure tourism market.