The use of digital wallets by January is expected to ease COVID-19 travel regulations, Tourism Fiji has said.

The proposed digitalisation of processes in the hotel and tourism sector aims to do away with the three-day stay at designed resorts and hotels for travellers to Fiji.

Tourism Fiji chief executive officer, Brent Hill, made the comments during a Meet The Media session in Suva yesterday.

Three-day hotel stay for in-bound travellers are applicable for Non Travel Partner countries, he said.

“Fiji is quarantine-free,” he said.

Tourism stakeholders are in discussions over more efficient ways of carrying out COVID-19 tests without travellers having to book into Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) certified accommodation sites for a designated period, he said.

By January, digital wallets will be launched to mark the beginning of a digitalised process that would gradually do away with the need for three nights stay at CFC-certified sites.

“The three-night pre-booked stay at CFC-certified hotels is a process that aims to ensure tests are carried out,” Mr Hill said.

“We will continue to innovate.”

Travellers to Fiji are advised to stay clear of high risk low vaccinated areas.

Fiji Continues To Top The List
A dispersal programme is planned for the months ahead, as Tourism Fiji works to spread tourism across the country, Mr Hill said.

The tourism sector has reached out to the media to partner in the role of reporting incidents of complacency against COVID-19 protocols.

“Everyone has a role to play in this to ensure protocols are adhered to,” Mr Hill said.

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association chief executive officer, Fantasha Lockington said the sector was working to fine tune testing mechanisms against COVID-19.

“It’s work in progress,” she said.

“So far, so good.

“Fingers crossed, the results will continue to be negative.”

Mrs Lockington said the Northern Division would open up for tourism in the next few weeks, with resorts around the country expected to gradually open in the months ahead.

Mr Hill said the first week after the reopening of the international borders was “very satisfying”.

“There were some teething issues,” he said.

“The bulk of arrivals are going straight into normal arrangements.

“The biggest day recorded 13,000 arrivals, with 10 turn around flights, and the social media traffic up by 20 per cent.”

Seamless Processes
Mr Hill said he continued to receive raves from international travellers over the seamless processes involved in booking and travelling to Fiji.

He said some travellers cited intimidating processes that were inundated with bureaucracy in travel arrangements, to destinations such as Singapore.

Mr Hill said the loud and warm Bula welcome that greets guests as they arrive at Nadi International Airport will continue until January.

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