Virus-hit Fiji To Reopen Borders For Tourists
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published September 20, 2021 | 09:30 AM
Suva, Fiji, Sept 20 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Sep, 2021 ) :Fiji plans to reopen for international tourists by November, aiming to rebuild a pandemic-devastated economy while battling a Delta-variant coronavirus outbreak.
"Our goal is to free our country -- and our economy -- from the rut of the pandemic," Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said in a statement last week.
Once 80 percent of Fiji's eligible population is vaccinated, it will offer quarantine-free travel to visitors from a "green list" of locations.
Of Fiji's eligible population, 66 percent is now fully vaccinated and Bainimarama predicts the country's target will be met by November 1.
Fiji's green list includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Korea, Singapore and parts of the United States.
Visitors would need to be fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 prior to departure.
Once in Fiji, they would stay in designated zones where all contacts, from hospitality staff to tour operators, would be fully vaccinated.
Reviving tourism, which government figures estimate accounts for 40 percent of Fiji's economy, is seen as crucial to containing rising poverty in the nation of under one million people.
But the main opposition, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), has criticised the plans.
"We have got to have our priorities right -- health first over the economy," SODELPA leader Bill Gavoka told Radio New Zealand.
"I don't believe Fiji is ready." Former Health Minister Neil Sharma said high vaccination rates would not stop the virus from spreading.
"If you look at vaccination, all it does is prevent an individual from ending up in hospital and/or the mortuary," he told AFP.
"You can still acquire and transmit the virus so it's not a guarantee," he added.
Fiji was free of community transmission for a year before a Delta outbreak emerged in April.
That outbreak's case numbers peaked in mid-June with more than 1,200 new infections daily.
Only 79 cases were recorded on Sunday.
The bulk of Fiji's tourists come from Australia and New Zealand, where foreign travel is strongly discouraged, and travellers from both countries face a two-week quarantine at their own expense upon returning home.
Despite the obstacles, governance watchdog Dialogue Fiji said borders needed to reopen to kickstart an economy that shrank 20 percent last year.
"It's a very difficult choice for the Fijian government, as opening the border will make us vulnerable to other, potentially deadlier variants," executive director Nilesh Lal told AFP.
"On the other hand, a protracted economic decline could see Fiji suffer a recession with wide-ranging impacts."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
DIG takes notice husband, wife murders in Shakirpure
Azma regrets private channel airing baseless news about Punjab CM
Rs. 777.1m fine imposed on 7,457 power pilferers
Finance minister briefs financial institutions on govt's economic reform initiat ..
Cuthbert earns superb Chelsea slender advantage on Barca
Police kill suspected street criminal in encounter
DCC meeting briefed about performance of all departments
MoU signed to support digital literacy, women empowerment in rural areas
Cleanliness operations commence in Gilgit
RDA issues notices to illegal housing schemes, Park View City Phase II, Baku Cit ..
Body of woman found in Industrial Area
Zahid Khan expresses concern over heavy rainfall damages
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
1 day ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
5 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
6 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
6 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
9 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
11 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
13 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
13 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago