Fiji’s ‘Care Fiji Commitment’ program to ensure traveller safety once borders re-open
In anticipation of Fiji’s borders re-opening to international travellers, Fiji has introduced the ‘Care Fiji Commitment’ which is a program dedicated to enhanced safety, health and hygiene protocols to ensure the utmost safety of travellers to Fiji in a post COVID-19 world. The introduction of the program represents a destination-wide assurance that Fiji is ready to welcome travellers safely back to its shores upon re-opening. And with this newly added layer of security, travellers are one step closer to the ‘Place Where Happiness Finds You’.
Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, Fiji has made health and safety its top priority. Due to the country’s quick and effective response to COVID-19, Fiji was able to contain the virus from a very early stage and mitigate any risk of the outbreak within the islands. The government’s effective containment measures put in place in March 2020 meant Fiji was able to officially declare itself COVID-contained in June 2020. Now, with the introduction of the Care Fiji Commitment, travellers can be assured that Fiji is a safe destination to enjoy on their next vacation to the islands.
“The Care Fiji Commitment is our assurance to travellers that the health and safety of everyone who lives and travels here remains our number one priority,” says Tourism Fiji Acting CEO, Robert Thompson. “Now, with this added layer of confidence in place, Fiji is primed to be an ideal postpandemic destination – one that is and has remained COVID-19 safe, allows natural social distancing, has a wide variety of islands to choose from, offers mostly boutique resorts with under 50 rooms total, and is known for its wide-open beaches and expansive rainforests,” adds Thompson.
The Care Fiji Commitment program consists of the following key components:
Globally Recognised Control & Mitigation Measures
The Care Fiji Commitment is an ongoing commitment to maintaining protection measures against COVID-19 in Fiji. This includes having testing and surveillance processes aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, local testing available at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control, WHO accredited isolation facilities, clear procedures in place for suspected cases, dedicated drop-in fever clinics for concerned visitors showing symptoms and a dedicated COVID-19 hotline.
Wellness Ambassadors
A designated Wellness Ambassador at each business will be available to travellers throughout their journey to assist with any COVID-19 related questions or concerns that may arise. The Wellness Ambassadors have undergone extensive training and are dedicated to implementing and upholding all hygiene protocols and COVID-19 safe practices.
careFIJI Contact Tracing App
Travellers will be strongly encouraged to download the careFIJI app which is a privacy-preserving, Bluetooth-based mobile app which utilises non-location tracking technology providing Bluetooth is enabled. It gives an added layer of security for visitors that any contact with a COVID-19 case will be quickly and seamlessly identified.
Two-Way Commitment
Travellers will also be asked to commit to the program by postponing any travel if they feel unwell, communicating with the Wellness Ambassadors as needed, downloading the careFIJI app and adhering to all social distancing, sanitisation, and face mask regulations, where required.
For added assurance, travellers can book their trip with full confidence through Care Fiji Commitment Partners. To date, nearly 200 of Tourism Fiji’s industry partners – including the resorts, restaurants, tour operators, attractions and more - have gone through an extensive training process as their first step in making the Care Fiji Commitment. The process is still ongoing and a full list of approved partners will be available once complete.
To add strength, recently, the Care Fiji Commitment programme has received recognition by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a global body on Travel and Tourism. The WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp allows travellers to recognise destinations and companies adopting health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with WTTC’s Global Safe Travels Protocols.
With the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp added to it, the CFC gives increased confidence to international travellers and will help ensure a seamless travel experience as border restrictions ease. The globally recognised stamp has been adopted by many other destinations across the world and serves as an important signal to travellers, workers and other stakeholders that there is a consistent global approach to health and safety best practices. To be endorsed by WTTC, Tourism Fiji submitted Fiji’s best practice protocols defined in the Fijian Government’s COVID-19 Safe Guidelines for tourism businesses and the comprehensive process involved for businesses to make the Care Fiji Commitment.
Regarding this development, Thompson said, “The Safe Travels stamp means our programme follows the World Travel & Tourism Council’s international protocols. Our team is working hard to ensure that all businesses in the tourism sector are signed up for the Care Fiji Commitment programme. We’re encouraging other companies that have not expressed their interest to do so by reaching out to our team.”