Tourism Fiji CMO Srishti Narayan Steps Down

Why It Matters

Narayan’s exit creates a pivotal moment for Fiji’s tourism branding, where continuity and fresh strategic direction will influence the country’s ability to sustain growth in a competitive post‑pandemic market.

Key Takeaways

• Narayan led record visitor numbers for three consecutive years
• Launched “Happy Passports” and “Be Fiji” campaigns in 2024‑25
• Havas Village handled Fiji’s global creative, CX, and media accounts
• Leadership turnover includes former CEO Brent Hill moving to Brisbane 2032 Olympics
• Successor search begins under new CEO Paresh Pant

Pulse Analysis

Srishti Narayan’s departure marks the end of a transformative era for Fiji’s tourism marketing. Hired in 2022 to revive a sector crippled by pandemic travel bans, she quickly shifted the narrative from sun‑and‑sand clichés to a richer story of cultural immersion and natural joy. By leveraging data‑driven digital tactics, Narayan drove record engagement across social platforms, helping the islands attract a steady stream of visitors that broke three consecutive annual records, a rare feat for a small Pacific nation.

The branding overhaul centered on the “Where happiness comes naturally” platform, a partnership with Havas Village that consolidated creative, customer experience, and media functions under one roof. This integrated approach birthed high‑impact campaigns like “Happy Passports” and the recent “Be Fiji” initiative, both of which blended experiential storytelling with influencer outreach to amplify Fiji’s appeal to millennial and Gen‑Z travelers. The campaigns not only boosted tourism arrivals but also earned multiple industry accolades, reinforcing Fiji’s position on global travel rankings.

With CEO Paresh Pant now steering the search for a new CMO, the focus turns to sustaining momentum while injecting fresh perspective. The leadership shuffle, compounded by former CEO Brent Hill’s move to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, underscores a broader talent migration within the region’s tourism and events sectors. Stakeholders will watch closely to see whether the next marketing chief will double down on Narayan’s happiness‑centric narrative or pivot toward emerging trends such as sustainable travel, AI‑enhanced personalization, and deeper market diversification. The outcome will shape Fiji’s competitive edge in an increasingly crowded South‑Pacific tourism landscape.