Radio New Zealand International reports that Fiji’s Visitors Bureau says there are many reasons why the country’s tourism market is stagnant.
New Zealand downgraded its travel advisory from high to some risk last month, while Australia followed suit this week, putting Fiji at the same level as Britain, Germany and Tonga.
The visitor bureau’s chief executive, Bill Gavoka, has welcomed the new travel advisories, but says the old warnings are not the only reason why visitors stayed away.
“The upheaval, the political one, always brings in a lot of passion in people.
“That in a way puts a question mark on Fiji’s in terms of its safety aspect.”
“The reporting of the emergency decree and some of the activities of the security forces here may have created a sense of anxiety.”
Bill Gavoka says less money for marketing and stronger competition from other destinations are also to blame.
Report by The Mole and Radio New Zealand International
