Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Shaheen Ali;
Acting Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr. James Fong;
CEO Tourism Fiji, Matthew Stoeckel and team;
Board Director, Tourism Fiji, Josephine Smith;
Members of the Tourism Recovery Team – Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, Fiji Airways, Fiji Airports, Fiji National Provident Fund and Ministry of Health and Medical Services;
Invited Guests;
Members of the Media;
Bula vinaka and welcome!
We are here today to announce an important programme, which has been the culmination of months of consultation across the tourism industry and Fijian Government. We’re excited to finally witness its completion through today’s launch.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have managed to stand out from the rest of the world and are now demonstrating our ability to safely welcome visitors back to our shores. The Care Fiji Commitment Programme is Fiji’s obligation to the health and safety of everyone living in and traveling to Fiji. It is crucial that consumers see and recognise the changes, and are assured that Fiji, is not only the best holiday destination, but the safest. And this is precisely what the Care Fiji Commitment programme is about.
It goes without saying that for a small island nation in the Pacific, Fiji has done phenomenally well in containing the spread of COVID-19. Outside of border quarantine, we have zero cases and are fortunate to be able to call ourselves ‘COVID-contained’.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this isn’t by luck but by the proactive measures of the Fijian Government.
The programme aims to extend the same level of care to all our international visitors and optimise sector-wide recovery efforts. We will achieve this by ensuring that the Fijian tourism industry adopts minimum standards of health and hygiene practices. The initiative provides added confidence to those who are contemplating a visit to our beautiful shores that Fiji is a safe place to travel to.
When the borders reopen, the visitor expectation will change dramatically – it already has. What was once at our advantage may no longer be. While relaxing in a tropical getaway might still be on visitors’ minds, they will also be searching for a destination that has best practice COVID-19 containment measures. In other words, they will be seeking reassurance that their holiday destination is a safe place to travel.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Back in July 2020, as part of the Fijian COVID Safe Economic Recovery Framework, COVID Safe Operational Guidelines for the Fijian Tourism Industry were launched. This was to guide tourism businesses into the new reality and to re-instil trust in the Fijian brand.
The Care Fiji Commitment builds on these Guidelines and highlights the importance of restoring confidence through safety and security protocols, designed to reduce risks at each step of the tourism value chain.
The programme gives industry the tools, training and resources they need to comply with these guidelines. It also gives consumers consistency about what they can expect no matter where they go in Fiji. It also outlines the steps to be taken in case there is a case and how to respond.
But like all great ideas and concepts, it needs your support to be able to achieve its purpose. We need our businesses, our hotels, our tour operators and every Fijian to come on board and stand in solidarity with us as we all make this commitment together.
Present with me today is a team from Tourism Fiji who will elaborate further. I am confident that this programme will play a significant role in Tourism Fiji’s market re-entry plans and encourage all businesses and industry stakeholders to adopt the programme and play their part.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I conclude, I want to acknowledge our healthcare, disciplinary forces and frontline heroes, for their tireless efforts and commitment to keep Fijians safe. In fact, in this very room we have some key people who continue to ensure safe economic recovery – these include Permanent Secretaries, Dr. James Fong and Shaheen Ali.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The border may not be open as yet but I’m proud to say that when it does, we will be in a state of readiness to welcome visitors back. But until then, our message to the world remains, ‘Our Bula Spirit Awaits You’.
With those few words, I officially launch the Care Fiji Commitment programme.
VINAKA VAKALEVU