Nadi-based Captain Cook Cruises has launched its inaugural eleven-night cruise to the Lau group and Kadavu.

While launching the company’s new venture yesterday, Minister for Transport, Timoci Natuva said tourists will experience some of the country’s most remote and unspoilt islands.

He said the new development will boost the thriving tourism industry by attracting more visitors to our shores.

Despite Fiji’s negative political image and poor relation with its major source markets, tourism remains strong and reached 600,000 in 2010 and it’s predicted to hit a record of 1.2 million by 2016.

Natuva said tourism contributed about two-point-five billion dollars in foreign earnings to the economy last year.

Captain Cook Cruises MV Reef Endeavour left afternoon on its first cruise to the Lau Group yesterday.