Tourism Fiji Defends Budget against Domestic Critics

With the recent grant of FJ $23 million ($12.9 million) to Tourism Fiji to promote tourism to the country, opposition political voices in the country have complained that the marketing of Fijian resorts is being subsidized by taxpayers and that Tourism Fiji does their marketing for them for free.

In 2007, over FJ $100 million ($56 million) was spent by the industry –FJ $50 million ($28 million) from the airlines (Air Pacific alone spent FJ $30 million [$17 million]); hoteliers spent FJ $40 million ($22.4 million); wholesalers, travel agents and ground tour operators spent FJ $10 million ($5.6 million); with only FJ $10 million ($5.6 million) from TF,” said Patrick Wong, chairman of Tourism Fiji.

Wong said tourism contributes largely to the government’s coffers as well as the well-being of the country as the nation’s largest foreign exchange earner. In 2007, the Hotel Turnover Tax saw the Fijian government receive FJ $14.5 million ($8.4 million), while the Airport Departure Tax saw the government receive FJ $21.8million ($12.2 million).