[Tia Maria]

If Fiji doesn't hold elections by May it will be kicked out of the Commonwealth:

http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/fiji-gets-six-month-democracy-deadline-2517571

I have no idea what Fiji's political situation was before the coup so I'm not sure whether it was a genuine reaction to existing corruption or not. Either way I can't see Bainimarama being very happy.

I wonder if it will affect booked holidays? Or whether they need the tourist dollar too much?

We were thinking about going but I'm not sure I'm comfortable about holidaying in a place if people's human rights are being ignored. Although, I don't know if the average Fijian is affected by all this at all......

What does everyone else think?

I know so many Kiwi's regularly holiday in Fiji. Would you holiday in Fiji at the moment?

Cheers

Tia

[Joolzr]

From a safety and travel insurance point of view it is worth checking out the FCO website. In the UK, you were not covered by insurance if the FCO was advising against travel.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/fiji

Having said that, I travelled to Bali and Borneo when they were on this list, all be it after careful consideration. In both places I felt very safe. In Bali, I was pleased to be there as the collapse of the travel industry had made many of the locals very desperate to make a living. Its an amazing country.

Politically, I think it is a question of conscience. A boycott on political grounds can have in impact, but it also affects the locals that work in the industry. If you do go, try and spend money in local business as well as multinationals. If you book a package with an international airline, and stay in an international chain, very little of your cash can go into the local economy. Having said that, I do like my fancy hotels....

[hball]

Definately - have you seen the offers??

Fiji is a land of coups - and this would not be the first time it has been removed from the commonwealth. They are fairly bloodless revolutions, this latest being in an effort to 'remove corruption' from the previous government. If you want to see evidence of the coup go to the government buildings in Suva, otherwise you will see nothing out of the ordinary at all!

Fijian history is interesting, what we are now experiencing stems from the British 'importing' Indian labour to work in the cane fields of Fiji in the 19th century. Naturally the long term consequence of uprooting one people and transporting them to another of our colonies was not considered by our forefathers! A bit unfortunate in hindsight!!

As a holilday destination Fiji is (IMO) a great place to unwind, as are other Pacific islands. Denerau, where many of the major hotel chains can be found, is very, very westernised and is not that much different from any other holiday resort area. The port even has a Planet Hollywood! The islands can be better in terms of the 'real' Fiji, especially if you have gone for a five star location where there is good interaction between the resorts and the local villages. Nadi and other towns can be a shock to the system of some tourists!

I have not seen any breach of human rights, that's not to say it doesn't exist - it does in just about every other country so why not in Fiji? But Fiji depends so very much on tourism that by staying away it could be argued that such a decision may adversly affect the livelihood of the local Fijian more so than the actions of Bainimarama.

:)

[James 1077]

Fiji has a coup every few years so I wouldn't worry about it too much. One of the recent coup leaders (not this one but, I think, the one before it) tried to overthrow the government as it was too "Indian" and I do think that a large amount of the recent strife and tension is a result of the British importing Indian labourers to work in the sugar fields (which are also where my family get our Fijian roots from).

Add to this the historical purchasers of the sugar (Britain) having to put up trade barriers as a result of joining the EU and also protecting its own sugar beet growers the country suddenly lost a large amount of foreign trade which it has never really recovered from (NZ went through the same thing but managed to find alternative markets relatively quickly). This therefore increased poverty and corruption often goes hand-in-hand with poverty so politically things haven't been great for a while.

The people, however, are just about as friendly as it gets - especially in the islands; and the country has some great resorts and tourist spots. Fishing and diving are both pretty fantastic.

We're hoping to go when my parents are over here in July!

[Georgebulldog]

I was told by a Kiwi that it wasn't the best place to go with young kids at the moment, would love to go but maybe not for a few years

[napiers]

OH did a huge chunk of his growing up in Fiji and lived through one or more coups - he's at work at the moment but will try to pin him down later or over the weekend and get his views. He still has lots of friends there so may know what the situation is.

[Tia Maria]

Ooooh thanks Napiers (and everyone else).

Popped into the travel agents today - she seemed to think it would be fine as long as you didn't stay near Nandi. And she didn't seem to think that there would be a problem with booked holidays if the whole Commonwealth thing kicked off. Although I think she wasn't sure what the whole Commonwealth thing was.

Does travel insurance cover you in these situations?

I do get that tourist dollars are vital but it doesn't stop me worrying that I'm sitting enjoying a cocktail in five star luxury, while down the road someone is being beaten up by the police for speaking out against the government. I guess all I'm looking for is reassurance that things haven't escalated since the coup.

Anyone else booked to go, or doing a stopover on their way here?

Cheers

Tia

[napiers]

Napiers OH here,

If the Commonwealth decides to suspend Fiji's membership, this will be the third time since 1988. In all honestly it makes no difference to Fiji on a day to day basis whether they are in or out of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is a club of former british colonies and recently even countries that were never associated with the British Empire (Mozambique, former Portugese colony). The Commonwealth has no formal authority or jurisdiction. It is simply a cosy club with perks such as the Commonwealth games!!! This is not to say that the Commonwealth doesnt do serious work of trying tp promote democracy etc, but then so do loads of other organisations i.e the UN and charities.

With regard to the most recent Coup of Dec 2006, (I was visiting family and friends in Fiji in Aug 2006) It was the culmination of a Head to Head between the PM Qarase and Bainimarama. Having been through the Coups of 1987 and 1988 I for once actually agree with Bainimarama's decision to remove a corrupt and ineffective government that was trying to disenfranchise all non Fijian Ethnic groups. If Qarases government had not been removed, Legislation that was in front of Parliament at that point in time would been enacted and Fiji would have been a far worse place off then it is now (Economically and Ethnic Stability).

Tourism used to account for about 30% of Fiji's economy (early 1990's). I would say now that figure is more like 50 - 60% due to the decline in the Sugar sector (Fiji's mainstay of their economy for the last 100 years).

In answer to your original post re: holiday in Fiji. I would say it is perfectly safe to visit and I was wondering if you have room in your suitcase for me. :D

To quote a very good friend of my family, also a Fiji resident who spent 30 years working and living in Africa; Murray likened all the Fiji Coups to a mini series of Monty Python Outtakes when compared the the African Coups he had witnessed.

You will throughly enjoy Fiji and the locals will have you laughing as soon as you're off the plane, just like a Monty Python movie!

[Tia Maria]

Napier's OH - thank you, I couldn't have asked for a better reply. Its good to hear from people like yourself and James1077 who have family connections there and can put it all into context. :nice1

Now, anyone know of any good deals to the Denarau area?

Cheers

Tia

PS Rep coming your way. :D