Fiji tourism slumps 25%
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The Fiji Times reportedWong as predicting that Q1 2009 arrivals were likely to be 25% down on the sameperiod last year - a record drop for the holiday islands.
Official January figuresalready showed numbers were down 28% year-on-year, and Wong told the newspaper that the situation hadnot improved. Despite the fact that January’s arrivals figures were senttumbling by a tropical storm that claimed 11 lives and flooded tourist areas,Wong believes that the deepening global economic crisis will mean that Februaryand March will not see any significant revival.
The longer-term outlookhowever looks more positive. Tourism Fijihas launched a large-scale Australasian campaign to attract tourists, and ishopeful that Fijiwill benefit from the Australian government’s stimulus package. Wong added thatthe Australian dollar was well placed against the Fijian dollar, and with therecent announcement that Pacific Blue will launch direct connecting Fiji with both Adelaideand Melbournefrom June looks set to boost visitor numbers.
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