Media reports in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand say that Australian and New Zealand post-coup travel advisories appear to have had a significant impact on Fiji’s tourism industry.
The ABC’s New Zealand correspondent, Peter Lewis, says visitor numbers and earnings are both down sharply, with Fiji’s Bureau of Statistics saying there has been a drop of nearly 4,500 visitors or 4% in the first quarter of this year despite aggressive marketing and assurances from the interim government that it is ” business as usual “.
That translates into a fall in tourism earnings of around $US14 million or 10% compared to the same time last year.
While not targetting the country’s tourist sector with specific sanctions, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Helen Clark, suggested people carefully consider alternative holiday options following last December’s coup and the expulsion of New Zealand’s High Commissioner.
Report by The Mole
