Fiji to open to Australian tourists from December 1 after hitting 80 per cent vaccination target

Australians will have the ability to go to Fiji from December after the Pacific island nation hit its goal of vaccinating 80 per cent of its eligible inhabitants.

Guests will nonetheless want to satisfy a number of COVID-19 security necessities, together with being totally vaccinated and offering a destructive PCR check inside 72 hours of departure, however there might be no quarantine required.

Solely guests from Fiji’s official “Journey Companion” record might be allowed. At this stage the record is Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Germany, Spain, France, Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and most Pacific Island international locations.

“It has been nearly two years since we welcomed worldwide guests,” mentioned Fiji’s minister for tourism, Faiyaz Koya.

“And in these two years, we have struggled, we have tailored, and we have ready. In the present day, our nationwide airline is prepared, our lodges and tour suppliers are prepared, and Fijians are prepared to securely welcome the world again.”

Fiji Airways will launch twice-daily flights from Sydney to Fiji on December 1, with every day flights from Melbourne and Brisbane. Jetstar could have 5 flights every week from Sydney to Fiji beginning on December 17, with Qantas flying the identical route 4 occasions every week from December 19. The Australian airways have indicated frequency might improve in 2022 if demand is excessive. 

It has been a exceptional turnaround for the Pacific nation, which earlier this 12 months earned the ignominious title of the nation with the highest per-capita COVID-19 infection rate in the world and that got here after Fiji had remained nearly COVID-free for many of the pandemic.

After greater than 50,000 circumstances and 600 deaths, the nation is now averaging about 40 new circumstances and three deaths a day.

Based on Tourism Fiji, each one who interacts with vacationers might be totally vaccinated, together with resort employees, drivers and tour guides. Each tourism enterprise may even have a “Wellness Ambassador” charged with sustaining COVID-19 security.

“We’re ecstatic that Fiji will open its borders to worldwide guests earlier than the tip of the 12 months,” says Tourism Fiji’s chief govt Brent Hill. “That is the second now we have been planning for practically two years now and I can guarantee the world that Fiji is protected and able to welcome you again.

Previous to the pandemic, greater than 360,000 Australians visited Fiji every year. The nation is extremely reliant on tourism – nearly 40 per cent of its GDP was generated by tourism earlier than the COVID-19 outbreak. Tourism additionally accounted for greater than a 3rd of all jobs.

Guests have been requested to make the next commitments throughout their Fiji vacation:

• Guarantee they meet COVID-19 testing and vaccination necessities earlier than their journey and upon arrival
• Ebook with a Care Fiji Dedicated enterprise
• Guarantee they’ve acceptable journey insurance coverage
• Obtain and use the careFIJI contact tracing app and QR examine in
• They do not journey if unwell or with COVID-19 signs
• Keep 2-metre bodily distancing the place acceptable
• Wash fingers and use hand sanitiser usually
• Put on a masks in public areas
• Keep away from areas with low vaccination charges
• Contact their resort’s Wellness Ambassador if unwell throughout their keep

Supply: Tourism Fiji

See additionally: Qantas restarting international flights, but will destinations let Australians in?

See additionally: Do you need to be vaccinated? Comparing each airlines’ new travel rules