The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association says with all group hotel bookings cancelled and current booking levels for the next 3 months showing an approximate decline of 40% that is increasing daily and fewer booking enquiries coming through for the next quarter, the situation is both unprecedented and difficult to predict and calls for greater flexibility in all sectors for planning purposes.
The hotel and tourism industry says Fiji's visitor numbers are made up of 41% of Australians followed by 21% New Zealanders, with 11% coming from the US and other countries making up the total numbers.
The association says Fiji must work extremely hard to win the confidence of visitors overseas amid the overwhelming response by tourism destinations around the world to also do the same.
The hotel and tourism operators say it is hoped that the national tourism office gets the additional funding support it will need to compete against the rest of the world in these difficult times.
They say they look with anticipation to the release of the supplementary budget and the measures that will be announced in terms of tax relief and stimulus to keep Fijian businesses viable and jobs secure.
The association says it appreciates and supports current efforts to keep Fiji safe with the recently upgraded travel bans.
They are also grateful to New Zealand for providing Pacific Islanders a waiver to still travel and hope that the Australian Government reconsiders its own travel restrictions to provide the same exemption.
The association says the impact of COVID-19 around the world was always expected to affect Fiji’s tourism as well as supply chains for tourism and other industries.
Tourism stakeholders have been preparing for impacts as early as mid-February when group and independent travel bookings from China started getting cancelled.
Many had commenced reviewing operational costs, put in contingency plans to reduce staff hours if the situation deteriorated and may even have to consider laying off staff eventually depending on how long travel bans stay in place.
They expect Small and Micro Enterprises to be hit the hardest, but they know many businesses will be impacted.
