Last year, Fiji received a record of 187,890 cruise passengers which are approximately a 2 percent increase compared to 2017.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Industry and Trade Premila Kumar at the launch of the Economic Impact of Cruise in Fiji Assessment Report.

Kumar says in terms of earnings from cruise passengers, Fiji recorded $111.3 million last year compared to 10.4 million which is a 9.4 percent increase from 2017.

Kumar says the numbers of cruise vessels coming in the country is also increasing year by year depending on the size of the vessel between 500-3000 tourists along with as much as 1000 crew members disembark in the muti purpose ports of entry in Suva and Lautoka each time a cruise vessel calls.

Kumar says from studies it is seen the private sector is the bigger beneficiary and they are receiving an estimate of 70 percent revenue of the tourism with the Fijian government getting 28 percent from it.

Kumar says with these results it is important for municipal councils to put in strategies to attract tourists and market local as well.

She says the first thing municipal councils need to see to is that shops and services open on Sunday and public holidays.

Kumar says sometimes when a cruise ship is in town on a Sunday the towns and cities are dead.

She says this is another milestone achievement and steps towards the right direction for the advancement of the Fijian yacht and cruise tourism industry.

She says the new hydrographic charts or map for Yasawa-i-Rara will open up a new cruise destination which ultimately increases economic activities.