Pacific Harbour targets longer visitor stays

Pacific Harbour is positioning itself as 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 for local businesses and communities.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka said this was increasingly important as Fiji moved 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 spent, how long they stayed and how widely the benefits were 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 the 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.