Travel & Tourism Industry forecast to grow by 6.6%

The Travel and Tourism Industry in Fiji is forecast to grow by 6.6% for this year.

This is according to the Fiji Economic Impact Report compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In some of the research key factors for last year, the total economic contribution of Travel and Tourism to GDP was FJD $2,845.1 million.

This is 37.1% of GDP.

The total contribution to employment including jobs indirectly supported by the sector was 116,365 jobs.

This is 33.5% of total employment.

Travel & Tourism Investment was FJD $408.3 million or 30.3% of total investment.

This is projected to rise by 4.6% this year.

David Scowsill, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Travel & Tourism Council, said with the growth forecast looking favourable, there are certain actions that Governments need to adopt.

Scowsill said among them is the implementation of more open visa regimes and the adoption of intelligent rather than punitive taxation policies.

Scowsill also suggested that public and private partnerships ensure that long term infrastructure and human resource needs are planned responsibly and sustainably

Meanwhile, each year, the World Travel & Tourism Council undertakes an economic analysis of the impact of the Travel & Tourism sector in 184 countries.
 

Story by: Gwen Mc Goon