To confirm your attendance to the FHTA AGM, complete the registration form below
Read moreCategory: Active Members Area
Only current FHTA members can read posts in this area
FHTA 2021 Membership Training Needs Survey
To assist us in this regard, please take a couple of minutes to complete the short survey below.
Read moreExtension of Time for Company Reregistration
The digital registration of companies and business names has been extended to 31st March 2021. This was advised by Government on 31 December 2020.
All existing business names, companies and foreign companies registered prior to 14 June 2019 must digitally register on the Registrar of Companies digital registry. Digital registration is completely free. Entity name, entity number and date of registration will not change.
To complete the digital registration process you will need an active e-profile account to login and submit an application online HERE. You can digitally register using an e-profile account or a ROC Pass.
International Travel Awards, Spa Awards, Dining Awards 2021 Nominations are Open
Visit https://internationaltravelawards.org/ to register or enter your hotel, tourism board, attractions, theme parks and travel companies for International Travel Awards 2021.
The International Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious awards for the tourism and hospitality industry in the world. The Award is organized every year by KSA Tourism Marketing and aims to recognize the excellent performers in the tourism and hospitality industry around the world.
Nominees are invited to join the Year 2021 award program. The award categories are created carefully to suit each and every business vertical in the tourism industry. The eligible nominees are from Hospitality industry such as Hotels, Resorts, Villas, Service apartments, Travel companies such as DMCs, Tour Operators and Travel Agents, Airlines, Tourism Boards, Attractions, Theme Parks, Water Parks & other categories in the tourism industry.
The year 2021 is getting bigger and better. Yes, KSA Tourism marketing has planned to host 3 awards on a single stage. International Dining Awards 2021 and International Spa Awards 2021 join together with International Travel awards 2021 to make the biggest tourism event of the year 2021.
The award program offers a great platform for the nominees to promote their brand globally through various channels such as PR, Media, Social Media, Online news portals & etc.
The nominations for the International Travel Awards 2021 are now open for all six regions Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, America, and Oceania. This year’s Award will combine 3 awards: International Travel Awards, International Dining Awards, and International Spa Awards. Over 100,000 international travels and professionals from the tourism industry will vote to select the winners.
International Dining Awards 2021 is crafted to recognise & reward the best service providers in the restaurant & food industry around the world. The nominees are from individual restaurants, multi-country restaurant chains, Hotel restaurants and any companies offering services in the restaurant and food industry around the world. Visit http://internationaldiningawards.com/ to register your restaurant.
International Spa Awards 2021 is designed to identify the best performers in the Wellness and Spa industry and reward them to promote their spa brand globally to the next great heights. The nominees are from individual spa and wellness centres, Hotel Spa, Spa Chain around the world. Visit https://internationalspaawards.com/ to register your Hotel spa or resort spa for international spa awards 2021.
Every year 2,000+ tourism and hospitality industry companies from 110+ countries take part in the Award to compete in more than 150 categories of Award. All the nominees receive ample opportunities to promote their tourism brand to the next level.
Jury Team
The dedicated team of Jury comes from a wide range of tourism backgrounds with each bringing their skill, enthusiasm, and experience to select, and showcase the participants on the international level.
The Jury team reviews each nomination, understands their USP and makes sure that the right company is chosen as a winner every year.
The jury team for the Awards will comprise 35% of the team from Hospitality, 18% from the Tourism Board, 14% from Media and PR, 11% from Tourism Associations, 10% from Corporates related to the travel and tourism industry, 9% from Tour Operators, and 3% from leading Travel Companies across the world.
Nominee Benefits
Nominated organizations will get promotions on social media platforms of International Travel Awards.
Organizations will get an opportunity to submit PR about their organization in the News section of the International Travel Awards and get a chance to create a strong branding among more than 50,000 travel trade professionals across the globe.
All the nominations will be assigned to a key account manager to help them reach the winning circle.
The company will also get a chance to feature in the nomination section of the official Awards Website.
During the gala event, Winners will be eligible to receive the winning package such as winner badge, winner certificate, a dedicated announcement video and lot more. Winners of the awards will receive huge recognition, branding, and marketing opportunities across the world.
A few of the nominees from the 2020 Awards are Banyan Tree, Visit Maldives ( Tourism Board), The Kempinski, Hilton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Shangri La, Atlantis the palm, Vivanta, The Chedi, Yas Water World, Viceroy Bali, Sentosa, Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, Hanging Gardens of Bali, Swissotel, Marriott, Radisson Blu, COMO Maldives, Dark Sky Portugal, Bayat Hotels, Le Grand Bellevue, Four Points by Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Doubletree by Hilton, The Westin Ubud, So Sofitel.
READ MORE
Appointment of Public Holidays – 2021
The Minister for Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations, Hon. Praveen K. Bala has appointed the Public Holidays for 2021 as per below Government Gazette No. 97 (Vol. 21 – Friday, 23rd October 2020).
Attachment: Government Gazette No. 97
FHTA Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020
Notice is hereby given that the 55th Annual General Meeting of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) will be held as follows:
Date: Thursday, 27th August 2020
Venue: Radisson Blu Resort Fiji, Denarau
Time: 4.00 PM*
The AGM e-Report is now accessible online here. No hard copies of the report will be distributed.
*To ensure that we have a quorum on the day of the AGM and a proper attendance roll for the official AGM Minutes, we request that you complete the online registration form to confirm your attendance no later than 4 pm on Wednesday, 26th August 2020.
If you are unable to attend the AGM, either in person or through zoom, email admin@fhta.com.fj to note your apologies.
We stress that the information provided is strictly confidential and for the access and use of FHTA Members only. The sharing of this information is strictly discouraged.
Denarau Island Farm
Nestled between the Heineken House Restaurant and Denarau Island Golf Course lies an organic oasis of fresh Fijian produce that serves as the heart of our Marriott International, Sheraton and Westin Resorts and provides a growing platform to minimise our need to import and showcase the bounty of Fijian produce to guests, associates and local farmers alike.
Started in 2009 with just ½ acre of land, the Denarau Island Farm has now grown to a size of 4ha, is managed by 6 dedicated staff and produces a seasonal harvest of over 850KG, 35 different fruits and vegetables, 2 nurseries and an expanding micro herb garden with edible flowers.
The farm harvests seasonal produce including baby carrots, asparagus, okra, Chilies, tomatoes, cauliflower, guava, paw paw and pineapple, and employs its own experienced coconut climber to manage the 500 coconuts a week that are grown and subsequently enjoyed by guests of the resort.
Built with the vision to reduce the importation of fresh food items, sustain our restaurant menus and showcase quality Fijian produce to our guests, the farm in turn serves as a training venue for our 150 culinary associates who are taught sustainable farming practices and take inspiration for their flavorful menus, and is continuing to build an infrastructure to be able to train local farmers.
More recently, the Denarau Island Farm has implemented a Pacific Grow, Bio-gas System and Dripkit, an innovative smart technology that enables the farm to use clean energy cooking. Approximately 12kg of organic kitchen waste 
gets fed into the Biogas system daily, producing 700L of gas to power the farm’s onsite BBQ for cooking and additionally 10-15L of dense rich liquid compost which nutrients the spices, herbs, fruits and vegetables grown on site. The farm then incorporates the harvest into their weekly Sunday Afternoon Farm BBQ event providing a full circle farm to table experience for guests.
Marriott International Fiji Resorts are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing our reliance on imports for produce and enlivening our culinary mantra – ‘go local’.
Marriott International Fiji Resorts announces key appointments
Denarau 3 March 2020 – Marriott International Fiji Resorts made announcements recently of major key appointments within the Fiji resorts including the two Samoa properties, the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel & Bungalows and the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Resort.
“We are thrilled to have some brilliant industry leaders’ step up to deliver market results” commented Neeraj Chadha, Multi Property Vice President, Fiji & Samoa – Marriott International, General Manager – Sheraton & Westin Resorts, Fiji. “They undoubtedly will deliver elevated results for our cluster of properties not only here in Fiji but also Samoa and as a brand leader, Marriott International has always recognized great potential and supported world-class industry talent which has led to its unprecedented growth.
Joakim Zetterberg
Joakim Zetterberg, announced as the Hotel Manager for The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa, reporting to the Multi Property Vice President Fiji & Samoa – Neeraj Chadha.
Joakim first joined The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa as Rooms Manager from June 2013 to November 2014.
He decided to explore Fiji for a while and was welcomed back to Marriott International as Hotel Manager, Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island in November 2017.
Joakim completed his Degree in Hospitality Management in 2009 from Sweden and then commenced his hospitality career as Night/Duty manager at the Sheraton Hotel & Resorts, Sweden. In 2011, he moved to the UK to join the Aloft Hotel as Team Leader, achieving the Team Leader of the Year Award in 2012.
Sudhir Yadav
Sudhir Yadav, announced as the Hotel Manager for the Sheraton Fiji Resort and the Sheraton Denarau Villas, reporting to the Multi Property Vice President Fiji & Samoa – Neeraj Chadha.
An accomplished hotelier with over 15 years of tourism and hospitality experience, Sudhir’s Marriott career has seen him lead front office teams at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde, as Director of Rooms at Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa and most recently as the hotel manager for the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa. As Hotel Manager he is responsible for overall day to day operations.
Javed Shameem
A dynamic, driven and commercially oriented individual with a broad understanding of Leisure, MICE and Corporate segments, Javed Shameem takes up the portfolio of Market Director of Sales – Fiji and Samoa for Marriott International.
Over the span of his career in Fijian tourism and hospitality, Javed has held notable roles with brands like the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Rosie Holidays and Ahura Resorts Fiji. His recent assignments include helping pre-open the award winning Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay as a market leader and being at the helm of our Proactive Sales Fiji Cluster for our five distinct resorts. A local boy and a commercially savvy leader, the Marriott family are excited to see him thrive.
For more please contact:
Karyn Sutton, Director of Marketing, Marriott International Fiji, Phone + (679) 9904 538
Krishnil Prasad, Cluster Marketing Executive, Marriott International Fiji, Phone + (679) 9980 202
About Marriott International Fiji
Marriott International Fiji Resorts, the leading hotel company in Fiji with three brands and five resorts in the portfolio including The Westin Denarau Island, Resort & Spa, Sheraton Fiji Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas, Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island and Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. Combined with the largest conference facility in Fiji, the Denarau Island Conference Centre, Fiji’s premier golf course at The Denarau Island Golf & Racquet Club and over 1200 dedicated service professionals, Marriott International Fiji offers guests and unrivalled south pacific experience. Learn more at www.marriottfijiresorts.com
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,300 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program with 141 million members globally. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, visit marriott.com.au
COVID19 Awareness & Precaution Information
FHTA COVID-19 Member Awareness Information
As of today, there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fiji. We remain free of infection but the World Health Organisation has now confirmed that the virus is spreading faster out of China now and the Fiji Government has put in place more stringent controls for border protection as well as issued travel restrictions for a wider range of countries.
There is an urgent need for extra vigilance from everyone.
Your staff may have questions or concerns about COVID-19 – more specifically, what precautions they should be taking to protect themselves, your property and customers. With the right plans and processes in place, both your staff and your customers will feel confident that appropriate steps have been taken to keep them protected.
FHTA recommends the following that are also CDC and WHO supported guidelines for your staff to ensure their safety and that of your customers and business and are meant to enhance what you may already have in place:
1. Separate fact from fiction
As with anything, there is a lot of misinformation available. Ensure your staff and customers are informed by factual, verified information about the virus – such as that provided by WHO. Their website even covers off common myths around coronavirus, which may be helpful for dealing with questions from both staff and customer Let your staff know that you will be communicating with them regularly (and how/where they can find that information) in order to keep them informed with up-to-date and relevant information.
Regular updates are provided by FHTA through information received from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services and the Department of Immigration and can be found on the FHTA website (website link).
Updates are available on CDC’s web page at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV
2. Heightened hygiene recommendations
- Wash hands – remind staff about the importance of thorough hand washing practices and ensure that policy reminders and signage are readily available and visible.
- Provide hand sanitisers – in places where your staff and customers interact each other and others
- Use Good Quality Disinfectants – check disinfectants being used are not overly diluted and are of good quality. Discuss these with your Housekeeping and Cleaning staff
- Food Handling – extra precaution should always be taken when it comes to food handling practices
- Sanitise Public Areas – increase vigilance and cleanliness protocols around areas such as elevators, door handles, handrails and drinking fountains.
3. Strongly Discourage kava bowl sharing
- Use a ladle to serve the kava
- Ensure that during kava ceremonies each guest uses their own separate kava drinking bowls (bilo) and that these are thoroughly washed if being reused later
- Discourage kava bowl sharing amongst staff immediately
4. Have an emergency plan in place
- Communicate with your guests and customers about what they should do and expect should they experience any symptoms.
- Prepare measures in the event of a suspected case
- If anyone develops any of the symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), you must immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the provided phone numbers, before visiting the doctor to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.
5. Establish quarantine protocols
- What happens in the event that a guest, customer or staff member is suspected as a potential carrier of the virus? Along with your emergency plan, have quarantine processes mapped out and put in place immediately. You must be clear on what this could mean for your business in terms of staff, guests and business-as-usual operations.
- As with any emergency or epidemic, your business’s ability to react swiftly will make all the difference. Good preparation goes a long way in ensuring your staff and customers are at ease and they would be grateful for your communication channels to keep them informed and making certain their safety is a top priority.
6. Separate sick employees
- Sick employees should be encouraged to stay home.
- CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees.
- Employees who suspect they may have members of their family at home who are sick should be encouraged to get medical assistance.
7. Separate sick guests
- Guests in hotels who become sick should be isolated from other guests and requested to remain in their rooms and the emergency medical numbers provided below contacted As noted earlier, please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.
- The numbers for each division are:
- Central 2219905
- Eastern 2219906
- Western 2219907
- Northern 2219908
RBF Economic Review – January 2020
20 February 2020 – The Reserve Bank of Fiji has published the Economic Review for the month ended January 2020.
Some highlights of the report are:
- Commercial bank’s new lending for investment purposes declined by 16.7% last year.
- Annual inflation fell further to -0.9% in December 2019, lower than the -0.3% in November and the 4.8% recorded in December 2018.
- Liquidity remained adequate in 2019, between the uneven distribution of funds across banks, demand deposits declined over the month in December by 1.8% to $603.7million and as of 30 January, liquidity stood at $675.2million.
- Over the month, the Fiji dollar strengthened against the USD(2.2%), JPY(1.5%) and the EURO (0.3%) but weakened against NZD(-2.5%) and AUD(-1.1%).
- The economy is anticipated to grow by a lower 1.7% in 2020, from a 1.0% anticipated growth last year.
View full review here.
A Travel Guide To Fiji: 11 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip
THE TRAVEL – 19 February 2020 – While many travelers head to Florida, Cuba, and Mexico when seeking out some sunshine, Fiji feels like a much more luxurious destination. Serving as the filming location for many seasons of popular reality show Survivor, Fiji has about 300 islands and is located in the South Pacific.
2020 can totally be the year that you go to Fiji and see how gorgeous it is. From the prettiest beaches to the best restaurants and what hotel to stay at, these are the details that tourists need to know so they can have some real rest and relaxation.
Here is a travel guide to Fiji: 11 things to know while planning your trip.
Lonely Planet’s 10 incredible sustainable travel experiences
Lonely Planet February 2020 – Travelling more sustainably isn’t just better for the planet – trips designed to benefit the environment and empower local people also make holidays much more rewarding. Here are 10 incredible sustainable adventures around the world you can feel good about signing up for.
1. Walk with Tasmania’s traditional owners, Australia
Known for its fiery lichen-tinged granite headlands, white sandy beaches and idyllic turquoise water, northeastern Tasmania’s Bay of Fires is one of Australia’s most incredible landscapes. Thanks to the launch of the Wukalina Walk in 2018, you can now learn about the 10,000-odd years of Aboriginal history and culture connected to the region with a Palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) guide. The first time Palawa people have had the chance to tell their story, on their own land, the three-day, four-night exploration of the Larapuna (Bay of Fires) and Wukalina (Mt William) areas is a genuine cultural experience guaranteed to deepen your understanding of Palawa culture and community history. Immersing you in the natural and rugged beauty of the breathtaking coastal region, the 34km walk sees guests spend two nights lodging in comfortable bespoke domed huts and one night in the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage at Eddystone Point.
2. Support Europe’s brown bears, Romania
Home to Europe’s largest concentration of brown bears, Romania is a fitting location for the continent’s largest bear sanctuary. Dedicated to providing a safe, humane environment for bears rescued from cruel captive conditions, Libearty Bear Sanctuary, near the town of Zărnesţi in Transylvania, offers the next best thing to viewing the impressive carnivores in their natural habitat. Visits are by guided tour of the 69-hectare oak forest that more than 100 bears now call home. For those keen to spend more time with the bears, UK-based Responsible Travel offers a seven-day volunteer programme at the sanctuary.
3. Bed down with locals, Bhutan
The world’s last Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan measures its success in terms of Gross National Happiness. Such an ethos helps to ensure a preserved environment both culturally and environmentally. Indeed, Bhutan’s tourist industry is founded on the principle of sustainability. A tour with a government-approved operator is a prerequisite, and will likely include visits to historic temples and hikes through yak meadows high in the Himalayas. Connect more deeply with local culture by enlisting an operator that can arrange a homestay experience such as the Wangchuck Centennial National Homestay programme, where income generated by tourism helps to offset the losses to crops and livestock caused by park wildlife.
4. Master coral planting, Fiji
What better way to experience Fiji’s dazzling coral reefs than to actively help to protect them? A growing number of the Pacific island nation’s resorts have now introduced coral gardening as a guest activity. Also known as coral aquaculture, coral gardening sees young corals grown in a protected nursery until adulthood. They are then transferred or ‘planted’ back into the natural environment, often on artificial reefs. Just a few resorts where you can try your hand at this sustainable underwater activity include Castaway Island Fiji, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort on the Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second-largest island, Makaira Resort on the island of Taveuni.
5. Take a low-impact whale-watching tour, New Zealand
The Māori-owned and -operated Whale Watch Kaikoura supports the indigenous Ngai Tahu community, located in Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island. Its boats operate all year round, and sightings include gentle aquatic giants such as sperm whales, humpbacks, blue whales and orcas, depending on the season. Boats keep a respectful distance from these celebrity creatures, and the in-tour commentary focuses on conservation efforts and cultural information. Kaikoura is roughly midway between Picton and Christchurch; take the local bus service along State Highway 1 for about two hours.
6. Kick back at an Amazon Basin eco-lodge, Bolivia
Hidden deep in Amazonian Bolivia there is a cluster of cabins set in a fertile area that is home to a whopping 11% of the world’s species of flora and fauna. Chalalán Ecolodge is entirely managed by the Quechua-Tacano indigenous community, and a share of the enterprise’s profits goes to fund community health and education facilities. It’s encircled by 14 well-marked nature trails, and the majority of guests choose to spend their mornings swinging through the jungle before spending the rest of the day swinging in the lodge’s hammocks. The best time to visit is during the dry months from May to October; from Rurrenabaque head 30km west to Madidi National Park.
7. Learn the art of sustainable living, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famous for its eco-resorts, but few are more low-impact than Rancho Margot. The perfect base for exploring nearby Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal with its hiking trails, bubbling hot springs and scenic lake, this lush off-grid retreat doubles as a sustainable learning centre. Guests can opt for a tour of its self-sufficient practices (from organic agriculture to green energy production) or sign up for a week-long immersion programme to learn about sustainability initiatives you can integrate into your life at home. Twice-daily yoga classes and farm-to-table meals from the ranch’s own garden are also included in all types of stays. If you’re prepared to make a four-week commitment, volunteering here is also an option.
8. Shadow Africa’s first peoples, Namibia
As a visitor at northeastern Namibia’s Tsumkwe Lodge, you get to tag along with San people (the original inhabitants of southern Africa, formerly known as Bushmen) and observe and partake in their daily activities. San people have survived in the Kalahari Desert for at least 40,000 years, so can teach a city slicker a thing or two about living in the wilderness. A morning’s outing may include sampling the ‘fruits’ of the desert (berries and tubers) or witnessing a finely honed hunt for antelope. Book directly with the lodge, or visit as part of a longer tour with a responsible operator like Sunvil Africa in the UK, which works closely with the community and can advise on its suitability for individual travellers.
9. Camp in a rhino sanctuary, Kenya
Stretching from Mt Kenya to the rim of the Great Rift Valley, Kenyan-owned Ol Pejeta Conservancy is East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary. With camping available, it’s one of the best budget safari stays in the region. By choosing to bed down here (or even just visit for the day) visitors help to fund one of Africa’s most successful community-led conservation initiatives. With activities ranging from classic games drives to eco-friendly experiences including walking and horseback safaris, there are plenty of opportunities to tick off the Big Five while learning about Ol Pejeta’s conservation work.
10. Volunteer for the National Parks Service, USA
Fall asleep to a chorus of wolf calls and count bears as your neighbours at one of the USA’s national parks. Volunteering positions range from tour guiding to scientific research, and provide plenty of opportunities to gain a unique perspective on nature. Volunteers work a minimum of 32 hours; remuneration for expenses is dependent on the local organisation for which you are volunteering.
Original article can be found HERE.
Appointment of Public Holidays – 2020
The Minister for Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations has appointed the Public Holidays for 2020 as per below Government Gazette No. 78 (Vol. 20 – Friday, 06 September 2019).
Attachment: Government Gazette No 78, Vol 20 – 2020 Public Holidays
Red Cross warning over bushfire recovery recruitment scam in Fiji
Fiji Red Cross Society, 12 February 2020 – The Fiji Red Cross Society has warned a few hotels in Fiji against the fake
recruitment drive that is currently targeting hotel workers and offering work in Australia for the bushfire clean up.
FRCS Director General, Ms Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said, “There are fraud emails circulating claiming to be working with a Red Cross relief programme to Australia and requesting people to volunteer from Fiji to work as food distributors to the Australian Fire service. They are providing fake ID cards and are also claiming that Red Cross will be responsible for the recipient’s children’s scholarship after the project has been completed.
We’re asking the public to look out for these fake emails. If you receive any email claiming to be working with other Red Cross National Society, please disregard it and refrain from sending any funds to them,” she said.
The Red Cross & Red Crescent movement is present in 191 countries and in each country there is a National Society. The National Societies cannot directly enter any country without first contact with that country’s National Society and the International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent (IFRC), which has regional offices across the globe.
If you are unsure please contact the Fiji Red Cross Society on email: ana.kotoiwasawasa@redcross.com.fj or phone numbers: 3314133/9992505/9992847.
FHTA Member Update on MSAF Survey Certificates
FHTA has been meeting with senior management at MSAF to discuss 2 issues regarding tourism vessel certificates that have been difficult to obtain quickly resulting in tourism businesses being affected, with the following positive outcomes:
1. For the usual annual renewal of the Coastal Trade License (CTL) that is often difficult to get approved sign-off for, FHTA has requested MSAF and the Ministry of Transport to consider including tourism vessels for extended validity periods for this license in a similar manner to the current consideration for commercial passenger franchises. In this respect, FHTA has requested that CTL’s be considered for a period of 5 years.
- MSAF has confirmed that they are looking into the required legislation changes for 5 year CTL licenses for tourism purposes
- This would only apply to vessels that are less than 20 years old
- Safety inspections would still continue to take place, as required annually
FHTA will provide an update on this legislation once confirmed and understand that this process has commenced.
2. For the late provision of Safety Inspection Certificates which required on a 6 month basis, FHTA has requested that MSAF and the Ministry for Transport consider an annual (2 month) license validity period and requested the provision of Interim Certificates to ensure tourism vessels could continue to get insurance protection and cover without interruption to tourism businesses.
- MSAF has agreed to provide Interim Certificates immediately after an approved inspection, pending the confirmation by the Senior Surveyor
- Members are reminded that it is a mandatory requirement to provide your vessel’s ownership documents for every inspection to avoid delays
- This will only be for on-going safety inspections and not for vessels that have just entered service or are brand new
- A copy of the inspection certificate may be obtained by the owner of the vessel with the Interim Certificate for the purposes of complying with insurance requirements and/or renewing insurance cover
- The Interim Certificate will be valid for 1 month. It is the responsibility of the vessel owner to get the final Inspection Certificate before the end of the 1 month validity period
- Senior Surveyor contact: Pene Manueli 9904524, pmanueli@msaf.com.fj
- Contact for certificate issuance status : Iliseva Karusi (PA to MSAF CEO) 3315266, ikarusi@msaf.com.fj
3. Insurance agencies and the Insurance Association of Fiji has confirmed that Interim Certificates are acceptable for insurance cover validity
- A copy of the Inspection Report is required by insurance agents with the copy of the Interim Certificate
Please feel free to contact the Secretariat if you have any queries or require further follow up, but do ensure you have provided ALL the required documentation to MSAF beforehand.
MSAF’s list of requirements can be accessed HERE.
FHTA Members Notice – Courtesy Vehicle Licensing
11 February 2020 – Members are advised of the update below following FHTA’s meetings and on-going discussions with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and our previous advice here of 11 January 2020.
1. Courtesy vans used for guest and staff pick up and drop off – regardless of the number of seats – must be taken to LTA to apply for a COMMERCIAL LICENSE CLASS.
2. LTA will provide a 1 year EXEMPTION PERMIT for the Commercial License Class;
- this exemption will allow Fiji Airports Ltd (FAL) to provide access to their bus bays per their usual requirements (application of the “”Blue Stickers””)
- the exemption timeframe is to allow LTA to amend the current legislation to include tourism specific requirements, not currently covered that will also address tourism’s preferred seating capacity for courtesy vehicles based on prudent operational and economic requirements.
- FHTA will continue to consult with LTA on the legislative amendments to ensure our business processes are better understood
3. Owners (hotels/resorts/tourism businesses) must provide proof of ownership of the vehicle(s) when applying for the Commercial License Class.
- if the vehicle has a Private License – this must be changed to a Commercial License
- if the vehicle ownership is under a person’s name – confirm if this person owns that tourism business
- where the business registration differs from the trading name (T/A), provide business ownership details
- if the hotel/resort/tourism business is outsourcing guest or staff transfers to someone else – the owners of that transport business/vehicle must have a PSV license class
4. Please use the attached copy of the LTA confirmation on Hotel Courtesy Van Licensing to take to your nearest LTA office for the above
- if your vehicle has not been deemed non-compliant yet and you are not sure, please contact the LTA Standards & Engineering Team sne@lta.com.fj to avoid your vehicle being taken off the road
- do let the FHTA Secretariat know if you are unable to get a response or your response is not in accordance with the above details or the attached letter HERE.
Provisional Hotels And Tourist Accommodation Statistics, Quarter 3, 2019
Fiji Bureau of Statistics Release No 1 2020
Findings from the Quarter 3, 2019 survey of Licensed Hotels, Resorts and Lodging Houses are presented in the release below;
Compared to Quarter 3, 2018
The number of Rooms Available increased by 6.0%.
The number of Rooms Sold increased by 8.4%.
The Room Occupancy Rate increased by 1.3 percentage points to 62.1%.
The number of Beds Available increased by 2.0%.
The number of Beds Sold increased by 6.5%.
The Bed Occupancy Rate increased by 2.4 percentage points to 57.8%.
Takings from Accommodation, Sales of Food, Liquor, Telephone and Other
Miscellaneous Charges totaled $371.4 million, an increase of 6.8%.
Paid Employment in the Hotel Sector increased by 3.2%.
Full report:Hotels-Qtr3-2019
FRCS Public Notice: Lodgement Dates Extended
Please see below the Public Notice from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service regarding the extension to lodgement dates. Read more
FHTA Member Advice No. 2 on Cancellations due to Coronavirus
29 January 2020
Chinese Market Travel Cancellations.
Members are reminded that with Chinese Government’s current suspension of group travel out of China and the notice here from the China Association of Travel Services, and to support the Ministry of Health taking the prescribed cautionary approach to initiate preventive measures to deal with Coronavirus, FHTA advises members as follows:
1. Recommended Practice for Bookings and Cancellations
1. For Guests who have not yet arrived in the country
a) Should Guests cancel their travel then normal cancellation fees apply.
b) Should Guests postpone their travel i.e. rebook for new dates:
- This should only be for bookings confirmed before 24 Jan 2020 for stays between 24 January and 29 February 2020
- Allow rebooking up to 31 October 2020 based on space available
- Allow guest bookings to be redone till 10 February 2020 and waive applicable rate differences
2. For Guests who are in the country and No Shows
Failure to arrive at the booked hotel should be treated as per the hotel’s normal cancellation/no show policy. Guests should be able to claim against their travel insurance. If they have no travel insurance, that is their conscious decision and they take the risk.
This recommendation reminder is provided to allow consistency and to minimise confusion among our partners.
————————————————————————————————————————-
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association further advises members to stay alert to news of the virus. As well, please ensure staff are practicing the recommended safety and good hygiene procedures and immediately isolate and report any suspected cases of the virus by calling the following numbers:
Central 2219905 | Eastern 2219906 | Western 2219907 | Northern 2219908
————————————————————————————————————————-
Media Release 4: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Dated: 28/01/2020
‘Rapid public health detection and response systems the best protection against novel coronavirus’
The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is closely monitoring the current outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 – nCoV) in China and is continuing its efforts to prepare for its potential introduction to Fiji. At present there are no confirmed cases of 2019 – nCoV in Fiji, or any other Pacific island country.
What is Fiji doing?
In response to the increased threat of 2019 – nCoV, the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is working closely with relevant Government ministries, World Health Organization and partners to enhance its public health systems to rapidly detect, test and respond if a case is identified in Fiji. This is because international spread of the disease is best stopped by rapid containment efforts at the source, and early detection and response, not by implementing unnecessary restrictions to international travel. Travel bans have been proven to be ineffective in stopping infectious diseases crossing borders, and may in fact worsen the impact of an outbreak. Fiji did not impose travel bans during the SARS epidemic in 2003 nor the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) pandemic in 2009. Most countries worldwide have not implemented travel bans in response to this outbreak in China, and they are not recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Alongside other countries globally, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States, Fiji has intensified efforts to reduce the risk of the virus being introduced and spreading in Fiji through a multilayered approach, including early identification of cases at the international borders and in the community, targeted awareness for high-risk persons, in particular travelers visiting or returning from affected areas, and enhancing the skills and resources of our health staff to rapidly respond if a case is identified.
As a core part of Fiji’s preparedness for possible introduction of the virus, the Ministry is working with international border control stakeholders, including airlines and airport and port authorities, to enhance existing mechanisms to detect ill travelers at international points of entry. Under Fijian legislation, airlines and vessels are required to report any ill passengers prior to disembarking. All travellers arriving on flights from Hong Kong and Singapore undergo additional health screening. And as an added health screening measure, all incoming passengers will soon be required to complete s supplementary arrivals card – an Arrival Health Declaration Form- to help ensure all travelers are checked for their potential exposure to the virus.
On Wednesday 29 January, the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services will begin providing refresher training to health workers on infection prevention and control measures, ensuring they are aware and equipped with the correct procedures and protective wear to safely respond to any potential cases.
What can you do?
Whilst we await further information about this new disease, at this time the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to remind the public that staying calm and continuing to practice good hygiene is important in helping to protect them against many diseases.
This includes:
- Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
- When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
- Avoid non-essential travel to mainland China
- If you have been to China in the last 14 days and develop any of the symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.
Central 2219905 | Eastern 2219906 | Western 2219907 | Northern 2219908
The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.
Source: Ministry of Health & Medical Services
End.
Importations of Telecommunication Equipments
In Pursuant to Section 55 (4) of the Telecommunications Promulgation 2008; “A person who intends to import any telecommunication equipment or apparatus including radio transmitting devices, other than equipment exempted by regulations, shall obtain an import permit from the authority”.
Under the requirements of the above mentioned legislation, for a person who intends to import telecommunications equipment shall obtain an Import Permit from the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF).
To be safe for all parties, it is therefore prudent to abide by the current legislation, and it is advisable for applicants to apply for an import permit in advance, as and when the shipment is ready to be shipped from overseas, this service also offers government revenue and satisfies our stakeholders on their permit application needs.
Importations of telecommunication equipments into the country shall require an Import Permit. This process ensures that equipments imported into the country comply with the technical rules and standards enforced by the TAF. Monitoring of imported telecommunications equipment ensures that Fiji is not a dumping ground for non standard compliance manufactured equipments.
IMPORT PERMIT PROCEDURE
The requirements provided below are mandatory and must be fulfilled prior to the issuance of import permit(s) for importation of mobiles and radio communication devices to be type approved in Fiji.
1. Reception of import permit application which contains;
a. All technical documentations and invoices of equipment(s) in soft or hard copy.
b. To enable TAF to issue an import permit, we require provision of brand, model and serial numbers for all mobile phones and radio communication(s) devices for assessment before an import permit can be issued.
2. Application fee of FJ$10.90 per model /type approval is paid.
3. An import permit fee is levied on all telecommunication and radio communication equipment imported into Fijii. A fee applies to each model assessed for type approval in respect of the telecommunication promulgation 2008 and the telecommunication (Amendments) Regulation 2008.
4. A fee is charged on each equipment assessment that TAF undertakes in response to an application request. This applies to each model assessed and for which a type approval is issued. That fee is $10.90 irrespective of the number of individual handsets associated with that model. As such, a fee is charged on the different types of equipment (models) provided for processing. This is outlined on “section29” of the telecommunication (amendments) regulation 2008 (License fee schedule), “for a single request to import radio communication”.
5. Lead time for such approval is 1 to 2 days.
6. Payment can be done at:
a. All Post Fiji outlets using TMO (Telegraphic Money Order) to: GOVERNMENT BUILDING POST OFFICE ONLY.
After sending the money please fax the TMO receipt and the filled Application form to fax number +679 3310110 or email the scanned TMO receipt and filled Application form to tafengineering@taf.org.fj
b. TAF office located at Level 1, 76 Gordon Street, Suva. Fiji.
7. Online payments are accepted.
8. The import permit(s) can be faxed upon request or collected from TAF office.
Attached: Application Form for Import Permit