We want Fiji in bubble

AUSTRALIA’S High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes has revealed plans to include Fiji in the Australia’s proposed transTasman bubble with New Zealand.

Speaking at a press conference in Suva yesterday, Feakes noted that while Australia had not yet eliminated the COVID-19 threat entirely, plans were afoot to include the popular destination in its insulated tourism strategy.

“As you’re probably aware, there are active coronavirus cases in Australia but once the work is done to open up the transTasman bubble, we will look very quickly at including Fiji in that as well,” he said.

“Our public health people will have to establish the protocols and procedures to allow travel to take place, but I think the hard work would take place between Australia and NZ and once that work is done, it will be very easily applied to Fiji,” Feakes added.

Fiji’s Minister for the Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, confirmed his country’s desire to join the trans-Tasman travel bubble, but only when proper protocols had been created making it safe.

“We want to know what we can do in the meantime to prepare in the event, or when it does actually open up, so we need to be all geared up for that, whether it’s regulatory frameworks in respect of medical protocols etc that may need to be developed so we can start those conversations now,” he said.

Fiji closed its borders to all international passenger flights back in Mar, last week extending that closure until the end of Jun.