Plans for the expansion of the superyacht jetty and reconfiguration of a commercial jetty at Port Denarau Marina (PDM) is in progress as it positions itself ready for an industry that will be worth $4.4billion in the next six years. Expansion works on Jetty C for superyacht berths at Denarau in Nadi is among infrastructural projects that will be executed as the marina operator remains positive on its operational outlook, supported by strong projections for Fiji’s tourism sector.
The Marina Master Plan for water and landside will also be developed. PDM chief executive officer Cynthia Rasch said more superyacht owners and operators were seeking new, adventurous and safer cruising grounds, and with the charter market growing, they were poised to capture that increasing traffic to the South Pacific. She attributed the decline in superyacht arrivals this year to the unrest in New Caledonia, shifts in global superyacht traffic linked to the Paris OIympics and the America’s Cup in Barcelona.
“Despite these challenges, our participation at international events like the Monaco Yacht Show and the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show has strengthened industry relationships and opened new opportunities,” Ms Rasch said in the company’s 2024 annual report. “We are confident these efforts will bear fruit, with growing interest in the South Pacific as a charter destination, bolstered by new charter regulations and increasing demand for safer cruising grounds due to unrest in other regions.�.