Australia supporting Fiji’s tourism-led economic recovery

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja yesterday announced a new partnership between Australia and Fiji to work with Fiji to safely welcome back international visitors when the country reopens to tourists next month.

Australia will provide more than $190,000 in funding to Tourism Fiji to support the delivery of the Care Fiji Commitment Program, a WHO-approved COVID-19 health and safety initiative.

Minister Seselja said this funding complements our engagement with Fiji,s border and health agencies on safe border reopening, and assistance to Fiji Airways to procure the world-leading Customer Relationship Management software platform.

“Despite keeping the virus at bay for over a year, Fiji,s economy has been hit hard by border closures since the beginning of the pandemic. Pre-COVID-19, tourism represented 38.9 per cent of GDP and 35.5 per cent of total employment,” Minister Seselja said.

“Almost 90 per cent of eligible Fijians are now fully vaccinated, and with commercial flights resuming from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australians who can,t wait to return will soon be able to safely enjoy everything Fiji has to offer.”

“As a friend, and partner, Australia is pleased to play a key role in getting tourism back up and running again in Fiji. Australians made up almost half of arrivals before the pandemic, and with quarantine-free travel to Fiji opening up to Australia from 1 December, Australians can once again start making holiday plans to travel to Fiji.”

The Care Fiji Commitment Program will be delivered by Australian Health services provider Aspen Medical. Aspen Medical Executive Chairman and Founder Glenn Keys AO said Aspen Medical is proud to be partnering with Tourism Fiji in conducting Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) Inspectors, Training.

“The training has focused on the key criteria required for final accommodation certification to reopen safely to tourists. This is one of the many steps in the lead up to the reopening of borders that will ensure that the Fijian tourism sector is being COVID-Safe and ready to welcome visitors back with open arms,” Mr Keys said.

Any Australians planning a holiday to Fiji should stay up to date with the Smartraveller travel advice for Fiji and consider any risks when traveling overseas.

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