After over two years of tight Covid pandemic restrictions for all travellers, the fantastic news has been announced that Fiji has reopened its borders to international cruise ships from around the world.
For the majority of the past few years during the Covid pandemic, Fiji has had its international borders closed to travellers. Only six months ago Fiji welcomed back international flights, a move that has brought over 118,000 travellers to the island.
This further move comes to assist the boost in Fiji’s economic recovery, with such a big wealth having come in from tourism and travel prior to the Covid pandemic.
A spokesperson for Tourism Fiji said, “With cruise vessels soon entering and docking in Fijian waters, the high direct spends by visitors to our shores will directly benefit handicraft sellers, which are mostly women, as well as local tour operators who regularly line up at the Lautoka port on cruise days.”
According to sources, cruise ships were able to enter Fijian waters again on Wednesday the 15th of June in line with the entry requirements set out by the Fijian government (these requirements and more details can be found on the Foreign Travel Advice page).
Before the Covid pandemic, cruises companies, alongside their travellers and crew, reportedly spent FJ$44.2 million (£16.5 million) per year in Fiji, fuelling a bustling tourism industry that was high in demand.
When cruises enter Fijian waters following the reopening of the border to them, all travellers will need to follow the established entry requirements to enter Fiji. These are as follows:
- All travellers 16 or older must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine programme
- Travellers 16 or older must take an antigen test within 24 hours of disembarkation at the Fijian ports
- Travellers must have valid medical travel insurance that includes international coverage for Covid
Any activity onshore in Fiji will also be subject to health and safety protocols that are held for all travellers to the island, by air and sea.
So, if you’d like to learn more about how your consumers’ monies are protected with Protected Trust Services (PTS) and how we support excellent travel businesses, check out our pages. Or you can get in touch with the lovely PTS team by calling 0207 190 9988 or emailing us at ask@protectedtrustservices.com.
