SUVA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-four films were shot in the South Pacific island state of Fiji in 2017, bringing 129 million Fijian dollars (about 62 million U.S. dollars) for the nation's economy.

According to Fijivillage website on Friday, Film Fiji Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dallas Foon said that the productions were shot in Fiji with a budgetary value of over 300 million Fijian dollars (about 144.7 million U.S. dollars) in 2017, topping the 2016 record of 57 productions.

An estimated 129 million Fijian dollars of the 300 million Fijian dollars was spent directly into the Fijian economy, generating new economic activity of about 350 million Fijian dollars (about 168.8 million U.S. dollars), he said, adding that the shooting of the movies also created job opportunities for local Fijians as well as businesses.

He confirmed that more than 30 productions of various forms have been shot in Fiji so far this year, and of these, 10 major productions that include large TV series are being shot in the island nation.

Three feature films have already been shot in Fiji with one more feature film to be shot in the island nation in the second half of this year.

Fiji is an archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited. In recent years, Fiji, especially the Mamanuca Islands in the western part of the country, has been the most used location by overseas film makers.?