US State Department advises citizens not to travel to Fiji due to COVID restrictions

The US State Department is advising its citizens not to travel to Fiji due to COVID-19 related restrictions.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Fiji, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.

They say there are restrictions in place affecting US citizens entry into Fiji and people should review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers before planning any international travel.

Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill had earlier said that he does not expect a change in arrival from the United States following this advisory.

Hill says when Fiji was on the CDC list before, they had contacted the US trade partners and did not see a shift or change in the interest and bookings coming to Fiji from the US.

He says the US has had quite an open policy on borders and airports with respect to COVID for some time now, so US tourists are quite used to travelling and making their own choices, irrespective of the COVID situation at the destination.

The CEO says about 20% of the 30,000 tourists that arrived into the country last month were from the US although some of them transit and go on to Australia.

Hill further says he does not think there will be too many American tourists who will be more apprehensive to come to Fiji following this advisory.

He adds Fiji has had COVID throughout the back half of 2021 into 2022 and we opened successfully on December 1st and have continued to welcome tourists.

He stresses our positivity rate in tourists is still relatively low and the vast majority of guests are having a great Fijian holiday.

Hill adds they have received some great feedback from US tourists about their trip, experience and safety.