Fiji Issues Security Warnings to Travelers

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Fiji issued security warnings to travelers following the dismissal of judges last week after they ruled the current government was illegal.


In response to the Court of Appeal ruling, Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo sacked the judges, dissolved the constitution, ruled out any election for five years and reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as prime minister.

"Currently, Fiji is calm but a rapid deterioration to the situation, including the potential for civil disorder and violence, cannot be ruled out," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a travel advisory.

Tourism Fiji CEO Josefa Tuamoto, however, advised in a press release today that “it is very much a case of business as usual” for Fiji’s tourism industry with the destination’s hotels, tour operators and all airlines hard at work catering to the large number of “‘very happy” international visitors who traditionally visit the destination during the Easter break.

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“As per the norm, Fiji’s hoteliers and tourism operators are going out of their way to make certain that each and every one of our international guests enjoys what Fiji is famous for—a wonderfully happy and very memorable travel experience,” he said.

While the U.S. has yet to announce any travel advisory or alert, agents with clients headed to Fiji can keep abreast of the situation there by visiting the New Zealand travel advisory site, which currently notes, "There is some risk to your security in Fiji and we advise caution."