Border reopening a hope for businesses: FHTA CEO

The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) has warmly welcomed Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s announcement on Fiji’s Border Reopening Framework.

Over 18 months of uncertainty and valiantly continued preparations towards this confirmation of reopening Fiji’s borders by December 1, 2021, with a framework that the tourism industry stakeholders have actively contributed to; will boost business confidence and provide so much hope and excitement for thousands of tourism businesses, workers and suppliers.

The welcome and much-anticipated news coming on Fiji Day is just the impetus needed to inspire Fijians around the country to continue their collective efforts to support the protection of our vulnerable population by being vaccinated and continuing with the COVID-safe protocols of clean hands, mask-wearing and social distancing.

Chief executive officer for FHTA, Fantasha Lockington said: “We understand implicitly that the COVID fight is nowhere near over, but are far more confident now that we know what we must continue to do to keep the communities we work in, our workers and our guests safe.

“We are keenly aware that we have only one chance to get our reopening right, and that our success will mean thousands get their jobs back, SME’s that have been closed can reopen, and that everything we do right will have a positive knock-on effect for many other sectors of our economy.”

FHTA continues to work closely with Tourism Fiji, the Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry of Health to ensure the Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) moving to certification and approval levels will give our visitors the absolute confidence that Fiji is more than ready to welcome them back.