The Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association is pleading with the interim government to remove the public safety regulation which, it says, is holding the industry back, with FIHTA president Dixon Seeto saying that until the regulation was lifted, several governments would not lift advisories telling their citizens that Fiji was an unstable and unsafe destination.
He added that while the governments of Australia and New Zealand have acknowledged that significant progress has been made since December 5, they were still hesitant of softening the travel advisories because of the public emergency regulations.
Mr Seeto said this issue was also raised during the Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange in Nadi last week, saying that despite a lot of interest in Fiji, many travel agents had raised their concerns over the travel advisories.
He said, ”The public emergency regulations are affecting the tourism industry because governments are still cautious about changing their travel advisories as a result of the situation in Fiji.”
”We have made a lot of progress with the removal of checkpoints and soldiers from the streets and while we have been engaged in dialogue with various embassies and high commissions on softening the travel advisories, they have voiced their concerns about the public emergency regulations.
”The extension of the regulations has proven to be a stumbling block in trying to lower or relax the travel advisories.”
Fiji Visitors Bureau CEO Viliame Gavoka said indications were that hotels and resorts in Fiji would continue operating at very cheap rates as a result of the situation, adding that with tourist arrivals being low, tourist stakeholders continue to offer discounts of up to 40% for the remainder of the year.
Report by The Mole on location in Fiji
