SPTO reports more visitors in Pacific in 2018

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation says 2.14 million people visited the Pacific last year - a two percent increase on 2017.

The organisation released its inaugural Pacific Tourism Forecast this week which showed about 40,000 more visitors arrived in the region last year - 38,941 more than 2017.

It attributed the growth to a positive global tourism trend, regional and national tourism marketing, improved connectivity and infrastructure development.

The organisation said it expects tourist numbers will grow by 3.3 percent in 2019 and each year until 2024.