Fiji courts Israeli travellers with Tokyo route and 2027 visitor target

Fiji is preparing a dedicated tourism campaign for the Israeli market, according to the country's ambassador to Israel, Jesoni Vitusagavulu. Israeli visitor numbers remain small, but Fiji wants 1,500 arrivals from Israel in 2027 and 3,000 within three years.

Key facts

• About 585 Israelis visited Fiji in 2025; 624 arrived between January and September 2026
• Targets: 1,500 Israeli visitors in 2027 and 3,000 within three years
• Typical 10-day trip from Israel: US$4,000–US$6,000, including flights
• Round-trip airfare from Israel: about US$2,000–US$2,300
• Total travel time via Tokyo: approximately 24 hours

Why is Fiji targeting Israeli travellers?

Tourism accounts for forty percent of Fiji's economy, with earnings close to FJ$3 billion and a target of FJ$4 billion next year, Vitusagavulu said. The country drew almost a million visitors last year and is aiming for 1.2 million in 2027, against a population of about 900,000.

Australia supplies about 46% of arrivals, New Zealand about 25% and the US about 10%. Because that mix is lopsided, Fiji wants to diversify and focus on Europe over the next three years, with Israel included in those plans. Two seminars on tourism and on trade and investment were recently held in Israel.

How do travellers from Israel get to Fiji?

The usual route is through Asia: fly to Tokyo and connect with Fiji Airways to Nadi. The Ben-Gurion Airport–Tokyo leg takes about 12 hours, and the Narita–Nadi leg another nine, so the total journey is roughly 24 hours including the minimum connection time.

Travellers can reach Tokyo on El Al's direct flight, and soon with Arkia Airlines. Fiji Airways also flies from Singapore and Hong Kong. Many Israeli travellers save on fares by routing through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa, which takes longer still.

How much does a trip cost?

Return airfare is about US$2,000–US$2,300, and a mid-range hotel costs around FJ$500 a night, or US$250. For a stay of about 10 days, an Israeli visitor is looking at US$4,000–US$6,000. Accommodation ranges from Airbnb apartments to luxury hotels and resorts.

What should Jewish and kosher travellers know?

The Jewish community in Fiji numbers about a dozen people, including embassy staff, and there are no synagogues and no kosher restaurants, the ambassador said. Kosher travellers can manage at vegetarian restaurants, and investments such as kosher restaurants are being considered. Jerusalem restaurateur Meir Ben-Ezra, owner of Tauro, is expected to visit Fiji for a personal trip and a feasibility study on opening a kosher restaurant there.

What this means for travellers

Travellers from Israel planning a Fiji trip should allow about a day each way for the journey, budget roughly US$4,000–US$6,000 for 10 days, and note that no synagogue or kosher restaurant currently exists in the country.

No start date has been announced for the dedicated Israeli tourism campaign. Fiji's stated goals are 1,500 Israeli visitors in 2027 and 3,000 within three years.