Overseas travel will not occur until it is safe to do so – Feakes

Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes says Australians will not travel to Fiji until it is safe to do so as the last thing they want is for Australians to bring coronavirus back into Fiji.

He says overseas travel is still some months away as there is still community transmission in Australia.

Feakes says the Fijian government has made it very clear how convenient it is to open up travel as quickly as possible but they want to do it safely.

The Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had earlier highlighted that talks continue with Australia and New Zealand about the travel bubble however the talks are at a delicate stage.

Sayed-Khaiyum had said those discussions will continue and the government will also remain focused on assisting the tourism industry in getting ready for the borders to be opened.

He says the travel packages are being put together to attract the tourists when the borders open.

Government has allocated $60 million for the Fiji Recovery Rebate Package in the 2020/2021 National Budget where through Fiji Airways, the government will give the first 150,000 visitors $400 each to go towards packages including flights, accommodation and Food and Beverages.