Economic recovery

industry.

The resumption of international travel is beyond Fiji’s control. It depends on other countries’ ability to manage and control the pandemic within their countries and open their borders. However, while we await international travel resumption, Fiji can resolve longstanding structural issues and prepare for post-pandemic travel. In this regard, some policy suggestions that may assist the industry going forward include:

• Adapting the industry to the “new normal” of tourism and travel through incorporating technology and innovating ways of doing business;

• Curating special holiday packages through competitive pricing structures;

• Leveraging the COVID containment efforts and marketing Fiji as a safe destination to travel;

• Implementing a multi-organisational co-ordinated approach to synchronise efforts and processes from the Ministry of Health to small operators;

• Maintaining the tourism-related tax cuts announced in the National Budget 2020-21 to assist in recovery efforts of the industry;

• Improving business conditions and incentivising tourism-related capital investment to attract foreign investment and development within the industry; and

• Ensuring that we vaccinate the majority of our population in the most efficient and effective manner once vaccines are available. This will mitigate the risk of another wave of infections when borders reopen.

Going forward, targeted policies need to be formulated now to assist the industry’s adaptation to the new normal of global travel for Fiji to remain dynamic and competitive when borders open and international travel resumes.