Exclusive: Fiji traveller numbers soaring as One&Only readies to brand ‘7 star’ resort

It was a person calendar year in the past this week when Fiji stated ‘Bula’ to the earth as the country’s borders opened back again up and due to the fact then the South Pacific country has been soaring with tourism, specially from Australia.

On the anniversary of the nation’s re-opening (Dec 1), Tourism Fiji CEO, Brent Hill, mentioned journey to the country proceeds to be immensely preferred and 2023 is already shaping up to be an additional sensational 12 months.

“We can safely and securely say we have recovered and we are placing the foot down,” he exclusively explained to HM.

“There is a lot to search ahead to in 2023 and there is a whole lot of terrific new products to arrive, with more than 10 resorts renovating and upgrading.”

The one particular-calendar year anniversary of the border opening has also come along with the enjoyable news becoming reported in Fiji that world luxurious chain A person&Only is set to open up a vacation resort in the Yasawa Islands.

Hill said very last weekend (Nov 26), a land offer was signed confirming A person&Only will create what is staying touted as a ‘7 star resort’ at Nacula and the brand’s entry would be a substantial deal for Fiji.

“The undertaking is amazingly remarkable,” Hill informed HM. “It is a truly good indication that there is self-assurance in our figures and Fiji is going so properly.

“The strategies include things like significant conclude villas, residential-type villas, 5 meals retailers, luxurious spa and beach club, all established on one of the most beautiful seashores in the Yasawas… and with a commitment to environmental sustainability.

“This is superb for the Mataqali of Nacula, and for tourism in Fiji, and a end result of the unbelievably potent recovery Fiji has experienced.”

Even though the job is nonetheless to be officially introduced, Just one&Only’s model proprietors Kerzner International have informed Wayfarer they are in talks on the task.

“Kerzner Global has verified that the company is now discovering possibilities to produce a luxurious resort in the wonderful and pristine outer islands of Fiji,” a spokesperson instructed HM.

More than in Savusavu Bay there’s another wonderful new job in the operates, with period a single of the new Nawi Island venture set to open up in Q1 2023, with a new marina for tremendous yachts and mega yachts.

Land sites are currently being bought and options incorporate an 18-home luxury lodge, which is nonetheless to be branded at this phase.

The new tasks aside, Australians are heading to Fiji like by no means in advance of, with Aussies building up 55% of the complete customer arrival considering the fact that reopening, one thing which took a historic turn in September when Fiji welcomed 38,950 Aussies in just one thirty day period.

Along with buoyant customer figures, Hill reported Fiji has witnessed a modify in the development of customer stay and devote with readers now being for a more time (9.7 evenings, up from 5 evenings pre-COVID-19) and owning a greater devote (AU$251 per particular person, for every night time, up 12% from pre-COVID-19).

He mentioned the rebound is attributed the Covid-safe and sound measures carried out by the marketplace prioritising vaccination and the Treatment Fiji Dedication programme, a programme executed by Tourism Fiji which was a conventional of most effective exercise protocols and expectations, and licensed tourism operators as acquiring rigorous actions in spot to deal with COVID-19.

“It’s been superb to welcome back again global people for the past 12-months and to see a steady, and more a short while ago a immediate improve in figures as the entire world will get applied to travelling once more,” he reported.

“The recovery trajectory for customer arrivals has exceeded our expectations and the influence can be found in our financial state with tourists buzzing in resorts, cities, and villages as people expertise the genuine Fiji.

“Many accommodations and resorts have recorded growth in their Australian visitors and commit. As an case in point, Australians are now the premier current market for Malolo Island Vacation resort accounting for 81% of organization.

“And a luxury, grownups-only resort like Royal Davui noticed a 65% maximize in expend for every evening on routines as opposed to 2019.

“Both Plantation Island and VOMO have also observed an uplift in bookings by groups of pals, in some cases VOMO has viewed up to 10 people or teams of 30 as well as close friends reserving resort residences and villas for the identical period of time, some with a two calendar year hold out to align dates,” Hill claimed.

He stated this increase in readers and lengths of keep is bringing monumental value to the nearby economy like all tourism and hospitality firms. In the five-month time period from April to August 2022 total earnings recorded ended up $805 million.

“The resilience of the Fijian men and women, the care we present for each individual other and our communities, our natural hospitality, and our determination to welcoming back readers is why Fiji has been productive in standing out as a desired destination, and we search ahead to a greater and much better 2023 focusing on sustainable, reliable tourism,” he stated.

The just one year anniversary has also appear along with the launch of Fiji Airways flights among Nadi and Vancouver and Hill mentioned bookings from Canada were already particularly spectacular.

HM has reached out to Just one&Only for comment on the new Fiji venture.