FijiThe Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has expressed approval of the Fijian Government's decision to exempt existing bookings from the new 5% Tourism Services Tax, which will apply only to bookings made from 1 September 2026. This decision comes after ATIA raised concerns about the retrospective application of the tax, which could have impacted thousands of Australian travellers and the businesses serving them.
Australia, being Fiji's largest tourism market, stands to benefit significantly from this exemption. The decision ensures that bookings made before the cut-off date will not incur the new tax, regardless of when the travel occurs. ATIA CEO Dean Long stated, “This is a commonsense outcome, and the right one. Retrospective billing was never something the industry could accept.”
The tax, part of Fiji's Tourism Services Tax Act 2026, will apply to new bookings for qualifying tourism services and is set to be in effect until 31 August 2027. ATIA is collaborating with the Fijian Government to clarify how the tax will apply to net rates, existing contracts, and wholesale bookings.
ATIA has worked closely with the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand and the Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association to address these concerns. Long added, “We thank the Fijian Government for listening to the concerns we raised on behalf of Australian travel agents and tour operators.”
Travellers considering a trip to Fiji are advised to consult ATIA-accredited travel agents for guidance on the new tax implications for bookings made after 1 September 2026.
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools and checked by the editor before publication. Spot an error? Report it here.
