Fiji re-opened its international borders to cruise ships on June 15 2022.
This move comes six months after the resumption of air travel into the country, which has successfully seen over 118,000 tourist arrivals into Fiji.
Similar to international air travel, cruising will resume in line by entry conditions established by the Fijian government.
Welcoming back cruise ships back into Fijian waters is a key facet of Fiji?s ongoing economic recovery. Pre-COVID, cruise companies, their passengers, and crew spent ?16.5mn annually in Fiji. The 2018 study on the economic impact of cruise tourism in Fiji also reveals that each cruise ship voyage brings an average of ?113,497 in spending per port of call and one cruise ship passenger brings ?33.50 of spending each.
With cruise vessels soon entering and docking in Fijian waters, thet high direct spends by visitors to the shores will directly benefit handicraft sellers, which are mostly women, as well as local tour operators who regularly line up at the Lautoka port on cruise days.
