More Aussies came to Fiji for holidays last year compared to 2007.

The Bureau of Statistics record shows that Australia recorded the highest number with 247,608, followed by New Zealand with a little more than 100,000 visitors and America with 63,667 tourists last year.

These three countries were followed by United Kingdom, Continental Europe and Japan.

However, the number of people who came to Fiji for holidays including Fiji residents totaled 693,854 which was an increase of 43,852 when compared to 2007.

The month of July for Fiji recorded the highest number of tourists while arrivals from Australia peaked in September and visitor numbers from Japan peaked in August.

Meanwhile, Fiji has recorded an increase in the number of tourists who visited the country last year when compared to 2007 of 8.4%. The 2007 arrival figures stood at 539,881 compared to 585,031 visitor numbers in 2008.

The Bureau reports that the last year has been the 5th year to surpass the 500,000th mark in visitor arrivals to Fiji.