Packages help Fiji

Air Pacific's passenger statistics for Fiji-bound tourists are far healthier than expected after Fiji's political upheaval.

Large numbers of New Zealanders have taken advantage of special airfares and holiday packages, says the general manager of Fiji's national airline, Max Kruse.

By the end of the year, Fiji expects to have hosted 285,000 tourists, which is 70 per cent of last year's record 410,000.

But the figures are much better than those forecast before the country began post-coup recovery promotion. From late August to the end of September Air Pacific took about 9000 New Zealanders to Fiji.