FHTA Comments on Vax Protocols & Impact on Industry

Tourism stakeholders have received the recent announcement that Government has removed the vaccination requirements for travellers entering the country with great applause.
The Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association (FHTA) says this is a significant development for the tourism industry, as widespread vaccination was an initial requirement that they were fully supportive of, as part of the reopening framework strategies undertaken, that retrospectively was one of Fiji tourism’s key success factors post-COVID.
The lifting of vaccination requirements for visitors is expected to lure potential tourists who were unable to visit Fiji from those parts of the world where vaccination has been an option rather than a requirement.
This is a confident step towards the fuller recovery of the tourism industry and paves the way for further considerations on other measures being removed in light of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services confirming Fiji’s high vaccination status and strong immunity levels.
While the industry takes seriously the health compliance requirements in efforts to protect our vulnerable populations and communities, FHTA is hopeful that the currently onerous requirement for tourism operators to continue to test their staff regularly for COVID while at work, and send these results immediately to the Border Health Protection Unit (BHPU) will be removed soon.
Additionally, with the current labour shortages being experienced around the country, the No Jab-No Job mandate is expected to be lifted to allow access to a wider pool of recruits that further embrace our promotion of inclusivity in the industry.
Fantasha Lockington, FHTA CEO, said, “The removal of the vaccination requirement is a great step to encouraging more visitors to choose Fiji as their preferred travel destination, but we are also keen to see other changes in this area that will support the industry refocus fully on their core businesses to better address the increasing challenges the industry is facing, and continue working with the Government on collaborative solutions.”