Fiji Adds 5% Tourism Services Tax on Resort Stays From Sept. 1

Fiji is rolling out a new 5% Tourism Services Tax (TST) on qualifying tourism services starting September 1, 2026. For remote workers staying at major resorts or booking through large tour operators, the change means higher bills — even on trips already booked and paid for.

What changed

Under the Tourism Services Tax Act 2026, a 5% tax applies to tourism services consumed on or after September 1. The cost is legally the customer's responsibility but is collected by businesses with annual turnover above FJ$2 million (roughly $890,000). That threshold means the tax mainly hits larger operators rather than small guesthouses.

Covered services include hotel accommodation, meals and drinks from licensed hotel facilities, and activities such as water sports, surfing excursions and river safaris.

The tax is temporary. According to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, it runs for 12 months through August 31, 2027, with revenue directed to fund Fiji Airways. Crucially, qualifying businesses must apply the charge to all eligible stays from September 1 onward — including bookings made and paid for before that date.

What it means for nomads

The 5% TST stacks on top of Fiji's existing 12.5% VAT, and invoices must list the two taxes separately. That combination noticeably raises the cost of a serviced resort stay.

Using the source's example: a remote worker spending FJ$3,000 (about $1,335) a month on serviced resort accommodation would pay an extra FJ$150 ($67) in TST, plus FJ$375 ($167) in VAT, for a monthly total of FJ$3,525 (about $1,569).

There is a clear way to avoid the surcharge. Travelers who book extended stays at smaller guesthouses, homestays or standard residential apartments falling below the FJ$2 million turnover threshold won't pay the extra 5%. For nomads planning longer stays, that reinforces a common cost-saving strategy: opting for local, residential-style housing over resorts and large hotels.

If you already have a Fiji booking spanning September 1, check with your accommodation or tour provider about whether the additional tax will appear on your invoice, since it can apply even to prepaid reservations. Budgeting an extra 5% on resort-based costs — on top of VAT — is the safest assumption while the tax remains in effect through August 2027.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.