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6 September, 2024

Fiji Tourism boss pushes for cruise companies to explore more Pacific island options

Beach on a tropical island with clear blue water. Dravuni Island, Fiji.

By Grant Jones

Fiji Tourism bosses are appealing for expedition cruise companies to explore more Pacific island options by considering Fiji’s 330-strong archipelago as potential destinations.

In an expansive interview with Travel Weekly, Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill invited cruise companies small and large to look at a market which is still in its embryonic stages and ripe for exploration.

“The area that we really putting a call out for is boutique cruise, particularly boutique expedition, luxury expedition, because there are parts of Fiji, like the Lau Group, that are absolutely unbelievable,” Hill said.

“You’re talking about some of the most breathtaking scenery in the whole of Fiji, and yet it’s quite difficult to get to.

“Some of those lagoons just blow your mind, the clarity of water, literally no one out there, nature at its best, incredible sandy white beaches. It’s mind-blowing.

“If there’s a boutique expedition cruise operator out there who’s keen, we think we’ve got a canvas as good as anywhere in the world.”

Captain Cook Cruises’ expedition ship Caledonian Sky lasted just one season after heading to remote islands tourists rarely get to see. But it pulled the pin on island cruises for the 33-year-old, 114-passenger vessel with the final itinerary now on 26 October. Guests booked beyond that date were offered earlier departures. The vessel is owned by APT and will return to the Kimberley.

But Norwegian Cruise Line is re-entering the market, adding some new destinations to its 2024-2025 itinerary.

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Meanwhile, at the 26th Australian Cruise Association conference at Adelaide’s SkyCity this week, Tourism Fiji’s COO Leigh Howard made a similar appeal saying there were key opportunities for cruise in Fiji.

More opportunities came in the form of expedition cruising to some of the more remote Fijian islands in the Pacific.

“I think that’s a real opportunity for me in understanding how the expeditions look at some of these destinations,” he told Travel Weekly‘s Zach Havard. “I think it needs to stack up commercially for them as well. So that’ll be one of the key drivers for Fiji. But I think Fiji ticks all the boxes. We’ve got great air connectivity, beautiful, boutique luxury hotels, and I think we’ve got the right infrastructure for expeditions.

“I think the appeal is there. And I think for us at tourism Fiji, it’s just more about creating that awareness and just showcasing all of those offerings.”

While expedition in areas such Kimberly are becoming increasingly popular, Fiji offers another drawcard in the Pacific.

“There’s no real other operator that’s currently exploring all of the beautiful islands that we have and the great thing about some of those beautiful islands is that everything’s still in its virgin state,” he says.

“There’s beautiful communities out there that really rely on tourism and rely on those opportunities to sort of see sailboats or even the expedition vessels that do come. I think there’s a real untapped opportunity.

“Expedition vessels are always looking for that next destination where to go, and for them, it’s all about going places where no one else goes.”

Feature image: Cruise lines need to explore the clear blue waters of islands like Dravuni, Fiji.

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