Virus hits tourism
DROP IN VISITOR ARRIVALS AFFECT 100,000 FAMILIES
AS many as 100,000 Fijian families will be impacted directly or indirectly by the drop in visitor arrivals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This, according to Rosie Travel Group managing director Tony Whitton.
He said Fiji was a small island nation that relied heavily on tourism.
“It’s really essential that we work together as a tourism industry and work very closely with Government so we will be able to develop strategies to make sure we cushion or defray some of the direct costs to everyday hardworking Fijians that make up the travel industry.
“Because, at the end of the day, whatever decisions we make, it’s gong to translate to being able to put food on the table of Fijian families — either directly or indirectly who depend on the tourism industry so we are going to be wise on what our responses are going to be.
“We have to be fair and reasonable but everything we do is bearing in mind we have a responsibility to our families but at the same time being able to make sure we can have viable, sustainable business.”
Mr Whitton said if people were not prudent, they would get into financial duress.
He added it was vital for organisations and companies to ensure their employees were stable during such a crisis.
“So this is a balancing act, all of us have to find some discomfort during this time but we will get through it, but we are not out of the woods yet.”
THE 86 Peace Corps volunteers here in Fiji have 48 hours to make arrangements to depart the country.
In a press release, Peace Corps director Jody Olsen said the suspension of work worldwide was necessary after the evacuation of volunteers from China and Mongolia.
“It is against this backdrop that I have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all Peace Corps operations globally and evacuate all of our volunteers,” said Mr Olsen.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day, we are acting now to safeguard your wellbeing and prevent a situation where volunteers are unable to leave their host countries.
“I also want to assure you and our host country partners that these evacuations represent the temporary suspension of volunteer activities.
“We are not closing posts, and we will be ready to return to normal operations when conditions permit. Importantly, our host country staff will remain in their current positions.”