Over 16,000 Fijians Depart in September

In September 2024, about 16,122 residents left Fiji, according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS). Among them, 835 individuals left to seek job opportunities abroad.

The FBoS reported that 14,864 people, or 92.2%, were departing for short-term trips of less than three months.

Additionally, 451 residents, or 2.8%, planned to be away for over three months but less than a year. About 807 individuals, or 5.0%, left for longer-term absences of one year or more.

The reasons for short-term departures included:

- Holiday: 54.1%

- Visiting friends or relatives: 35.0%

- Business: 5.5%

- Education/Training: 2.0%

- Others: 2.0%

- Employment: 1.4%

Meanwhile, Fiji welcomed 92,591 visitors in September 2024, setting a record for that month.

This number reflects a 2.4% increase compared to September of the previous year, but is down 2.3% from August 2024, which had 94,787 visitors.

Of the total visitors, 91,679 arrived by air, while 912 came by sea, mostly seamen on fishing vessels (798) and 114 arriving by yacht.

Holidaymakers made up the majority of visitors, accounting for 81.6% of arrivals.

Additionally, 8.0% came to visit friends or relatives, 2.0% for business, and 8.4% for other reasons.