Swiss travellers are drawn to the South Pacific

The Fiji Islands are celebrating a record year for tourism: in 2024, for the first time in their history, they surpassed the one million visitor mark. Among the strongest drivers are Swiss travellers – with a growth rate of 23 per cent. In contrast, the overall German-speaking market saw an increase of just 4%, according to Tourism Fiji.

Dominic Eckert, founder and owner of Dreamtime Travel, is thrilled with the development: ‘Fiji had an absolutely record year in 2024 – with almost 40 per cent more bookings than in 2023,’ he says. ‘Strong advance bookings for 2025 point to further growth.‘ Thanks to excellent flight connections, Fiji is increasingly establishing itself as a hub in the South Pacific, offering ideal opportunities for exciting island hopping,’ says Eckert.

At the same time, more and more customers are choosing Fiji as their main destination and staying there for three weeks or more. ‘They explore the main island of Viti Levu by rental car, go on a cruise and then enjoy a few relaxing days on one of the many wonderful islands,’ explains Eckert.

Barbara Kusters-Lattmann, Product Manager Oceania at Knecht Reisen, also confirms the boom: ‘Compared to the previous year, we have more than doubled the number of passengers,’ she says. The current financial year has also got off to a promising start. ‘We are optimistic about the outlook for 2025.’ Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, explains: ‘Our focus is on attracting travellers who not only appreciate our breathtaking scenery and rich culture, but also contribute to high-quality tourism.’