Natural disasters and tourism-led growth economic growth a case study of Fiji : 1980-2014

Although tourism in recent years has emerged as engine of growth in Fiji, the uncertainties associated with the disastrous impact of tropical cyclones have been causing greater anxieties in recent times with increase in the number of cyclones each year hitting the South Pacific region. This paper focuses on the effects of cyclones on tourism and growth in Fiji. The data on damages inflicted by past annual cyclones are scanty. The quantitative estimates are based more on anecdotal evidence than on systematic assessments. Given these constraints, the paper attempts to undertake an empirical study through employing a bi-nary variable for cyclone, along with conventional variables.peer-reviewe