Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji's tourism agency says growth in arrivals from Australia has been a key factor in the country having a record number of visitors in 2008.

The chairman of Tourism Fiji, Patrick Wong, says arrivals to November stood at 530,000, with a projected figure in December of about 50,000.

Mr Wong says 2009 could be a rough year, with economic conditions, an increase in rooms, and lower consumer confidence. However, he says an increase in government funding for marketing should help.