Fiji has had a total of 489,647 visitors into the country as of October this year.

Fiji Visitors Bureau Chairman, Patrick Wong said this figure is a 9.7per cent growth from 2007 and 5 per cent growth from 2006.

He said the tourism industry is creating some normality in the industry reassuring Fiji is still a safe destination.

Wong reiterates tourism is the only sector that can quickly turn the economy around creating the much needed employment and alleviating poverty.

While highlighting the challenging times the tourism industry has faced, Wong said there is a need to recognise the tourism sector as a formal one in being the number one foreign exchange earner.