Why Fiji Would Have to Wait Longer Even After NZ and Australia are set to Open TransTasman Travel Bubble

Economic considerations have influenced New Zealand’s and Australia’s decision to open a trans-Tasman travel bubble on April 19.

Fiji would have to wait longer for a travel bubble with its main development partners in the region going by what NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a news conference at the Beehive in Wellington on Tuesday.

She rated Australia as “low risk” and highlighted the substantial contributions of Australians to the New Zealand tourism industry.

Even though Fiji has proven to be the safest destination, much better than New Zealand and Australia, it is obvious that it’s contribution to the NZ economy in tourism is negligible compared to Australia’s.

We have clocked more than 330 days of no community transmission, believed to be the best record in the region and the rest of the world. But it is still not treated as priority by New Zealand and Australia because of small tourism spending.

No word on Fiji

Ms Ardern said nothing about Fiji or any other Pacific Island nation and focused on Australia on Tuesday although Fiji is New Zealand’s largest Pacific Island trading partner, and the only country in our region to rank among New Zealand’s top 20 trading partners.

New Zealand is Fiji’s second largest tourist market, after Australia, with New Zealanders making approximately 180,000 visits to Fiji each year, according to official Government records. With the border closed those Kiwis have been spending their holidays in New Zealand helping to keep the tourism industry there ticking.

If a travel bubble opens between Fiji and New Zealand, they are likely to flock to Fiji.

Now, they are most likely to go to Australia. That will be offset by Australians going to New Zealand. The trans-Tasman bubble ensures that.

Fiji has been ready for several months to open its border to New Zealand and Australia. It has been appealing to the two countries to join a proposed Bula Bubble.

But Ms Ardern said why the trans-Tasman bubble was priority. She said in 2019, Australians accounted for 40 per cent of tourist arrivals and spent $2 billion for the New Zealand economy.

She talked about a projection of the restoration of 80 per cent of that next year.

The trans-Tasman bubble has brought smiles to the New Zealand tourism industry. It is estimated that if there are no disruptions this year, the Australians will spend $1 billion and save thousands of jobs.

We are not getting a mention.