23 Sep 2009

Fiji Tourism says visitor numbers from NZ and Australia are up

10:32 am on 23 September 2009

Fiji Tourism says visitor arrivals from New Zealand and Australia are slowly growing again.

Its president, Patrick Wong, says the rise follows a downturn after floods in Fiji earlier this year, the negative media as well as the recession.

July figures show an influx of more than 58,000 New Zealanders and Australians, which is about 800 fewer than the same month last year.

Mr Wong says he expects numbers to rise.

"I guess as we came to July, August and September there were good packages in place to as well. Certainly, out of the Australian and New Zealand, they do know what the Fiji experience is all about, and a lot of those people actually do come during the school holidays and the winter months."

Patrick Wong of Fiji Tourism.