CANBERRA – Australians travelling to Fiji should be cautious as the Pacific Island’s latest political crisis deepens, the Australian Government has warned.
Last week Fiji president Ratu Josefa Iloilo abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and disbanded the Court of Appeal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) smartraveller website said it had reviewed its travel advisory in light of the latest developments.
“This is a significant decision which may lead to increased political uncertainty in Fiji,” DFAT says on its smartraveller.gov.au website.
It said that any adverse political event in Fiji could lead to an outbreak of violence and civil unrest, in particular in and around Suva.
New Zealanders in Fiji are also being warned to “keep a low profile” as the troubled island nation faces more political upheaval.
In a media statement today, Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto advised, “it is very much a case of business as usual†for Fiji’s tourism industry with the destination’s hoteliers, tour operators and all airlines hard at work catering to the large number of “‘very happy†international visitors who traditionally visit during the Easter break.
Tuamoto reassured both the travelling public and travel partners in all of its key markets that nothing has changed or is likely to change within the destination.
