A new vat scheme which will allow foreign passport holding departing tourists  who buy more than $500 worth of goods while in Fiji

To claim the 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax back.

The scheme will come into effect from February 1 next year.
Alongside zero duty rating on various items targeted at tourists, the Tourist VAT Refund Scheme was expected to position Fiji as a shopping hub.

Tourism Fiji chairman Patrick Wong said the Tourist VAT Refund Scheme would make Fiji an attractive shopping destination, similar to the heydays of the 1970′s.

The scheme would initially be available for tourists departing Nadi Airport and those departing by cruise vessels from Suva.
The scheme has been welcomed by the Fiji Chamber of Commerce, with its president Swani Maharaj saying such provisions would encourage tourists to spend more in Fiji.

He said the scheme was similar to that employed by Australia and New Zealand.