The South Pacific Tourism Organisation says tourist arrivals in the region grew by three percent in 2017 and reached a total of 2.1 million.
The organisation's chief executive Chris Cocker says the increase of 65,000 tourists on 2016 helped to generate earnings of $US3.6 billion for the region last year.
An island in the Yasawa Group, one of Fiji's tourist playgrounds Photo: RNZI/Sally Round
Mr Cocker said the growth reflected increased connectivity, massive promotional campaigns and improved infrastructure developments.
He said Fiji continued to lead the region as a tourism destination, attracting 39 percent of arrivals.
Second was French Polynesia followed by the Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Palau, New Caledonia, Timor Leste and Vanuatu.
Dancers at the 51st anniversary of self-governance with the annual Constitution Day ceremony at the National Auditorium on main island Rarotonga. Photo: RNZI/Eipuatiare Arthur
Mr Cocker said Australia and New Zealand continued to top the source markets ranking, providing 50 percent of the Pacific's tourists.
The USA was the third largest source market followed by Europe.
He said the number of tourists visiting the Pacific from China in 2017 fell by about 7000 to 144,000.
240414. Photo RNZ. Vanuatu. Port Vila, The Melanesian Port Vila Hotel, tourism, pool Photo: RNZ
