Fiji departure tax jumps 50 percent

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Sat, 21 Jan 2012 6:06p.m.

The tourism industry is worried that a 50 percent increase in departure tax in Fiji may deter travellers

The tourism industry is worried that a 50 percent increase in departure tax in Fiji may deter travellers

By Rachel Tiffen

A 50 percent hike in the departure tax in Fiji has been slapped on travellers with, it would appear, no formal warning from the Fijian Government.

The tax is now Fiji$150 per person, equal to around NZ$105, and there are concerns in Fiji that it will turn people off holidaying there.

Mike Friend, of Flight Centre, says that when departure tax jumped in the UK and Australia, 12 months notice was given and in this case, although there had been talk of it, there was no formal warning.

“Normally with a tax increase or a holiday [price] increase we get somewhere between seven and 14 days to contact all our customers,” says Mr Friend.

Those involved in the tourism industry in Fiji are worried the increase will lead to a drop in visitors to the country.

That concern does not seem to worry the powers that be however, and despite a number of phone calls to the Fijian Tourism Minister, other government officials and the Fiji Tourism Chief Executive, nobody would talk to us.

Only time will tell if travellers will now choose to spend their money elsewhere.

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Comments

15 Mar 2012 10:36a.m.

Jarrod wrote:

I'm in Fiji and the people go so very far to slave & make your stay special and yet a lot of people still want it all for free these people need a little help and if $50 OR MORE dollars per person are needed to help Fijians with such projects as a new hospital in Navua or to maintain roads and the airport runway how can you not pay the extra cash, if you want to be cheap go to Thailand but I love this little banana republic with all it's fault which are insignificant in comparison to say NZ or Aus.

25 Jan 2012 03:11p.m.

Richard Fletcher wrote:

Fiji desperately needs visitors-a departure tax of $F150 will not help the situation.Frankly anymore than $F50 is a gouge

25 Jan 2012 01:17p.m.

Janet wrote:

@Geoff This tax increase was actually announced in November so it wasn't an "overnight" thing at all. Plus it works out to only a NZ$36 dollar increase - you can hardly call that a "gouge"! The government are lowering the taxes on imports such as fruit and vegetables, so this will translate into lower costs for food and other services for tourists.

25 Jan 2012 04:22a.m.

Geoff wrote:

@EUGH. It has made a difference to me and it will make a difference to others. If an increase of $50/person is such a paltry sum and Fiji needs the tourist dollar, then why on earth are they dissuading people to go?

24 Jan 2012 07:17a.m.

Neil wrote:

There are plenty of other destinations in the Pacific where I'd rather go. Fiji is overpriced and overrated and increasing the departure tax is a very dumb idea as Fiji needs more visitors, not less. It should be trying to compete for them with other islands.

23 Jan 2012 09:59a.m.

EUGH wrote:

An increase from around $NZ50 to $NZ100, an extract $50 on a trip that will cost in the thousands will not make any difference at all in whether people choose to travel to Fiji as it is one of the cheapest destinations in the South Pacific anyway. We used to be regular travellers to Bali until kids. 2 years ago we returned with the children to find the departure tax there had risen from 100000 Rupiah(around $NZ13) per person to $US25 (around $NZ35). With years of trade sanctions against Fiji and the vilification of the country has made it less desirable for travelers lowering the Fiji Dollar and resulting in heavily discounted packages. Travelers are already exploiting Fiji's desparate situation for cheap travel so an extra $50?? Really?? Don't get me wrong, I do not support Fiji's police state in anyway, but the only island cheaper to travel to in the South Pacific is Waiheke, and 7 days in a half decent Hotel will still probably cost more!!!

22 Jan 2012 02:20a.m.

NickH wrote:

This is rather a slanted story bashing Fiji yet again. While I agree Fiji has its challenges as a destination and to do business in having lived there during the aftermath of this current 2006 coup. This latest departure tax increase, while on the high side was signaled in the 2012 budget address from the prime minister in November 2011, so is not completely out of the blue as those with vested interests in justifying why they have not warned their customers would have the NZ public believe.

21 Jan 2012 09:32p.m.

Geoff wrote:

I was planning to go there in March for 10 days. Not now though. Apart from the amount which is a gouge, I am nervous about what else might be imposed on me while there, given the way this increase was suddenly implemented.

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