The Fiji Tourism Expo is now in full swing, with a strong delegation of Kiwis in attendance as demand for the destination continues to rise.
Flight Centre Travel Group New Zealand’s Jen Staples says the group is seeing strong Fiji demand with bookings currently tracking up around 9% on last year. “Fiji continues to be one of the most popular destinations for Kiwi travellers given its proximity, ease of travel and broad appeal across families, couples and groups.”
These numbers are even higher for House of Travel, who’s Fiji sales for the first three weeks of Mar are up 14.2% year-on-year. HoT’s Julia Bozich says this is partly driven by the current geopolitical climate. “On the ground, resorts are experiencing an increase in last-minute bookings from New Zealand, Australia, and North America from predominantly among older couples looking to stay in high end, premium properties; unusual for this time of year given Mar is low/cyclone season,” she adds.
Stats NZ reports that 203,265 New Zealanders returned from a trip to Fiji in 2025, and while this was slightly down (-4%) on 2024, spend was up 22.5% to FJD634.2 million last year. Both brands expect Fiji’s popularity to continue, with Bozich saying its popularity is entrenched in the Kiwi psyche as a multi-generational holiday cycle, ‘where we visit as children and return with our own’.
Staples, meanwhile, expects steady demand as travellers continue to favour destinations that are close to home.
. . . All Aboard
FTE kicked off with cocktails aboard Blue Lagoon Cruises’ newest addition, the MV Yasawa Princess II, which will officially set sail 27 Apr.
The ship has 22 cabins with ensuites, accommodating up to 44 guests per sailing. MV Yasawa Princess II will initially operate four-night cruises and some peak period seven-night cruises.
The ship is also available for charter. Onboard amenities include a panoramic observation deck, indoor lounges, shaded outdoor seating, full bar service, onboard spa, and a staging area for accessing the ship’s tender vessel. Options include multi-day itineraries, guided reef snorkels, village visits and authentic cultural experiences.
