Tourism Fiji calls for more mid-range hotels

Tourism Fiji says the country urgently needs more two-and-a-half- to four-star accommodation and visitor attractions to meet changing traveller demand and encourage repeat visitors to stay longer.

Speaking on tourism investment opportunities at the AHICE Fiji Investment Summit 2026 at Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay last week, Tourism Fiji chief executive officer Paresh Pant said much of the interest in recent years had centred on luxury developments.

"In our investment map, we've seen lots of five-star and six-star hotel proposals. That's fantastic," he said.

"But I'd also encourage investors to consider brands that operate successfully in other destinations and look at how they are represented in Fiji. There is an opportunity to expand that presence."

Mr Pant said the two-and-a-half- to four-star market was no longer about basic hotel rooms.

"We're talking about suites and family rooms because the target market is changing. We are seeing more intergenerational travel and families travelling with other families. We need to ask what options are available to them and where we can provide quality accommodation," he said.

He said improvements in digital connectivity and wider infrastructure were also supporting tourism growth.

"Roads, airports and important tourist stopping points are all part of the broader infrastructure being developed," Mr Pant said.

He urged investors to look beyond accommodation and consider visitor attractions that would encourage longer stays.

"One of the key things is that visitors stay in Fiji for an average of nine-and-a-half days. If you look at markets such as Australia and New Zealand, many visitors have been here multiple times. In New Zealand, about 20 per cent of travellers have visited Fiji five or more times.

"The next time they come, we need to give them a reason to stay longer. Alongside hotel investments, I'd also like investors to think about attraction investments."

Mr Pant pointed to attractions such as mangrove boardwalks and nature-based experiences.

"If you look at places such as Cairns, they've developed mangrove walks and villages built around attractions and handicrafts. Initiatives like these encourage visitors to spend more time in destinations and stay longer in hotels."

Agritourism opportunities

Mr Pant said investors should also consider partnerships with activity providers.

"There is already a strong small-ship cruising network in Fiji.

"We should look at how hotels can partner with operators in the Mamanuca Islands through day trips and other experiences. We need variety as we plan for future opportunities."

He said smaller-scale investments could be just as important as major tourism projects.

"People love big-scale investments, but smaller developments in places such as Taveuni also have value," he said.

"Fifteen or 20 years ago, whenever agritourism was mentioned, people thought of very large-scale projects. It can be difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to partner with investors in those circumstances.

"If you start small and make projects relevant to local communities, they can gain training and operational experience. They learn as they grow, scale up over time and can support larger developments in the future."

Other focus areas

Mr Pant said leisure travellers accounted for 79 per cent of Fiji's tourism market, but there was also growing potential in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

"Properties such as Crowne Plaza have invested significantly in facilities like large ballrooms, helping Fiji attract conferences and events," he said.