The Suva Handicraft Market Vendors and Manufacturers Association is calling for urgent action by Police after serious concerns being raised regarding some wooden swordsellers hassling and forcing tourists to buy the swords for as high as $85.
Association President, Mahendra Singh says videos of the tourists getting forced to buy these items are being circulated and this is painting a very bad picture of the country as the tourists are very sensitive about this.
@lbmjess When I thought people were just kind and welcoming us to their country, gifting us their taonga. I thought it was a really kind thing to do, little did I know I was in the middle of a hussle 🤦♀️🤣 The hussle got really intense and he began to get aggressive in his body language, take the money and GET!! #fiji #fijitiktok #hussle ♬ original sound - LBM
One of the videos shows two female tourists in Suva City being approached by a swordseller, who then starts carving their names on the wooden swords before demanding $85 from them. The woman says she had to pay $65.
Singh says they are paying the stall fees at the Suva Handicraft Centre however the tourists are scared after these incidents and are not visiting the centre.
He says this has been going on for years, and it is not good for tourism and honest small businesses.
We have approached the Police and the Suva City Council for comments.
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