Business as usual in Fiji 

Source: ONE NewsFrank Bainimarama

Most people in Fiji tourism have just a short message for Australians who may be pondering a holiday in the islands: "It's safe, and now it's cheaper."

"It's business as usual," said Tourism Fiji CEO Josefata Tuamoto, adding that nothing had changed or was likely to change.

A bonus for visitors came last week when the military regime devalued the Fiji dollar by 20%.

"Devaluation means that there never has been a better time to holiday in Fiji," Tuamoto said. "It is a windfall for the tourist industry."

Statements issued by Tourism Fiji and resort operators make no mention of political developments in the nation over the last week which saw the Constitution scrapped, 2006 coup leader Frank Bainimarama reappointed prime minister, media censorship imposed and extensive powers given to police and the military.

The omission is a way of emphasising that tourism in Fiji is apolitical - having no connection with politics - although the national body Tourism Fiji is funded through the government and in fact had its 2009 allotment increased in the budget announced late last year.

The regime's latest moves have been widely condemned in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere overseas.

But the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in its travel advisories, stopped short of suggesting that its citizens avoid travel to Fiji, instead only saying they should "exercise caution" especially in the capital, Suva.

Most resorts are concentrated on the Coral Coast well to the west of Suva, in the Nadi area of western Viti Levu and on offshore islands in the west.

New resort package holidays at reduced rates reflecting the devaluation are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

First Fiji operator to react was Blue Lagoon Cruises which operates trips off Lautoka north of Nadi of between three and four days around the western islands and occasionally seven-day voyages to the far northeast, which had already reduced fares by 15%.

Fiji's biggest recent new tourism project in recent years, the five-star Intercontinental Resort with 218 rooms, 55 villas and an 18-hole championship golf course, will open as scheduled on June 1.

"We are on track," general manager Neil Houghton said.

Tuamoto said he was confident devaluation "would have an immediate and very positive effect".

He went on: "While Fiji has always represented fantastic value, some pockets within the international travel industry had implied the destination was over-priced.

"Devaluation will bring the Fiji dollar in line with the currencies in our major source markets, especially Australia and New Zealand."

Tourism in Fiji has bounced back from a series of setbacks over the past 22 years, including four coups d'etats, in 1987 (two), 2000 and 2006, plus occasional cyclones and floods.

More recently it has been reacting to the current world economic meltdown with heavily-discounted packages to attract the Australian and New Zealand visitors in particular who were looking at shorter-haul overseas holidays.

"We have found out that you can survive a major downturn in business confidence if you hang in there believing that tomorrow will be better than today," commented one resort owner.

"One factor that we Fijian resorts have in common is that we never know what rules we will be working under tomorrow.

"It is almost a humorous fact that by working and planning under those conditions for over 20 years we have all become very resilient and adapt quickly to today's new regime, whatever that may be."

Meanwhile, the "business as usual" tag also applies to Fiji's international airline Air Pacific.

General manager Australia Victor Sharan said the situation in all Fiji tourism areas was calm and normal; the Easter period had seen a surge in visitor arrivals in Fiji, with people taking advantage of discounted deals on offer.

"Security presence is also normal," he added.

Pacific Blue, the other main carrier between Australia and Fiji, also said its usual flights were continuing.