Fiji drops pre-flight testing for arrivals
Your next tropical holiday just got a little easier, and a lot more affordable.
By Chris Ashton, April 29 2022
Travellers hoping to enjoy Fiji's barefoot island bliss have a new reason to smile, with the South Pacific nation set to remove all pre-flight testing requirements from May 1.
The welcome change eliminates the need for fully-vaccinated visitors to undertake a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to boarding their flight.
Now, visitors aged 16 and over simply need to provide proof of vaccination and travel insurance, as well as complete a rapid test within 24 hours of arrival.
It's a perfect time to book a trip to Fiji.
Tourism Fiji
Tourism Fiji
Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill describes the change as a significant step for Fiji, “making it easier than ever to travel to our idyllic shores from around the globe.”
“The Fijian Government has continued to respond to data and science and moved quickly to make these changes, as more countries around the world also relaxed their protocols. There has never been a better, simpler time to come to Fiji than now.”
Prior to COVID-19, Australian travellers accounted for more than half of Fiji’s international arrivals. With stunning drawcards like the Yasawa Islands, the shark-diving mecca of Beqa Lagoon, and the popular family resorts that line the Coral Coast, it's easy to see why.
A one bedroom sunset villa at Kokomo Private island.
Since December 2021, Fiji has welcomed more than 100,000 international visitors.
Fiji Airways offers twice daily flights from Sydney to Nadi aboard its Airbus A350, which features an impressive business class and newly-upgraded menus that deliver 'island fare with flair'. In addition, it flies five times a week from Melbourne and Brisbane aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8.
Fiji Airways flies the Airbus A350 on its daily Sydney-Nadi service
Oneworld partner Qantas offers daily flights from Sydney to Nadi aboard the Boeing 737, with 12 recliner seats in a 2-2 layout over three rows in its premium business class.
Virgin Australia also jets off daily from Sydney to Nadi, four times a week from Melbourne and up to five from Brisbane, all aboard its nimble Boeing 737-800.
Business class travellers, Qantas Gold status holders and above, and members of the airline’s own Tabua Club loyalty program can also enjoy access to the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport.
04 Nov 2020
Total posts 21
Sounds promising, and hope it becomes a reality, within the estimated timeframe.
Though, what is really a disgrace and a rip off, is the charge of $150,- AUD for a preflight cpr test, and that’s per person.
In Hong Kong we pay $240,- HKD = approx AUD 40,- that is reasonable, to get international travel started.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 205
Love to get back to the Yasawas and the Blue Lagoon. Have great memories sitting on the balcony, drinking wine and watching the sun sink into the sea.
Velocity
23 Feb 2016
Total posts 21
Blue Lagoon is our first stop end of June followed by Paradise Cove... cannot wait!
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 182
Hello all!
Christmas travel, fantastic and if it can be achieved, will be a positive boost to the industry and for frustrated travelers. Whether countries and the virus can find a balance, this is the unknown quantity. One thing is certain, before booking and paying for holidays which may not eventuate, be mindful of the credits being offered for cancellations or deferrals.
Maybe last minute bookings and payments could be the way to go to save disappointment and added costs, but most important, lets hope Fiji and Australia balance their travel requirements for this opportunity to work seamlessly.
Regards.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
last minute bookings won't work. With the very limited number of seats to LAX offered at present for departure from around December 20, the few seats there are will be bought up fast, as soon as Freedom Day is official govt. policy.
Look at BNE/LAX in Jan 2022, cf. Jan 2020.
4 x A332s with reduced seats, cf. 13 x B787s/week. Am sure Qantas can add extra flights if demand there. Talk of ground staff shortages by unions, might mean delays, but not cancellations.
09 Sep 2021
Total posts 15
Well, prior to the Covid nightmare, my husband and I were frequent travellers. Seen the world ( beautiful FIJI many times)
Sadly, that is all a beautiful distant memory. The No Jab , No Fly , applies to us. Oh well, Bon Voyage lucky travellers.
We hope to join you all soon one day ( if the rules change ). Such is life !
Velocity
23 Feb 2016
Total posts 21
Or... crazy idea. GET VACCINATED.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
It's no longer necessary to be vaccinated to enter or leave Australia as the quarantine on the unvaccinated has been lifted in NSW since April 30, April 28 in Queensland and the week before in Victoria.
40 countries (and growing) have no vaccine or testing rules and can be entered in the same way as pre-Covid. Something like 100+ others allow the unvaccinated in with just a negative test.
I am confident all these rules will be scrapped worldwide by July or August, with the only holdouts left by then being the likes of China, Hong Kong, maybe the Philippines and a few others.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
However, it is not known when airlines like Qantas will change their policies (Air New Zealand already has) so there is hope. I think the second half of 2022 is looking very good.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
05 Nov 2014
Total posts 65
This is insanity. Absolute insanity by a desperate tourist industry.
Fiji currently has the world's highest recorded death rate from Covid. Vaccinations are high, but AstraZeneca does not provide complete immunity to the Delta strain and Fiji is now in ruins.
If you think lockdowns have damaged mental health in Australia, the evidence from Fiji is that seeing your friends and family die is much more damaging.
Tahiti made the terrible mistake of allowing American visitors in on the basis of negative Covid testing. They have a first rate French health system, and it is on its knees. Tahiti and New Caledonia both have 300,000 residents and are both French.
New Caledonia adopted the Australian system of closed borders and hotel quarantine. They have had 143 cases and 0 deaths.
Tahiti did what Fiji is proposing to do - and they have the superior Pfizer vaccine, which is 28% more effective against the Delta strain than the AstraZeneca which is widely used in Fiji and is used on Australia's older people, who are the most vulnerable. Tahiti has had 40,000 cases and 522 deaths.
I repeat, both have 300,000 residents. But 40,000 cases versus 143 cases. 522 deaths versus 0 deaths. Guess which economy is in ruins? The Covid-ravaged one, not the closed one.
If Fiji is foolish enough to open up to all countries on the basis of vaccination they will follow Tahiti in enduring mountains of death and hardship.
But more to the point, if they do so it will be impossible for Australia to allow its people to travel to Fiji, vaccinated or not.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
What nonsense. Tahiti helped their economy, it was Fiji and New Caledonia that made the terrible mistake of introducing too stringent travel restrictions that have seriously harmed the wellbeing of their population and their economy.
Additionally, your rant is contradictory. You admit that both the vaccines and testing are useless.
We've got to learn to live with this. Time to open up and admit what a huge mistake lockdowns and quarantines were.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 457
It sounds fair but what options other than Bali does one have for something tropical and not dull and sterile such as Singapore and is not the overpriced Australian Domestic Holidays such as Cairns does one have.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
There are a TON of other options! How about Phuket? THAI flies non-stop from Sydney to Phuket as does Jetstar. Then there's a myriad of other happening beach resort areas in Thailand including nearby Krabi, also Koh Tao/Koh Samui/Koh Phangan and the slightly quieter, but still happening Koh Chang on the east coast towards Cambodia.
Or you could consider southern Vietnam, such as Mui Ne or Nha Trang, or Phu Quoc. However, Phu Quoc gets pretty wet during the rainy season, especially between June and September. Da Nang is nice during that time, with high temperatures and relatively little rain. Perfect beach weather. The period between late November and January needs to be avoided as that's when it's cool, rainy, there are typhoons and it's just generally miserable. However, south of Nha Trang that's the perfect time to visit because it's sunny, warm and dry.
Or you could try Cambodia (Koh Kong or Sihanoukville or Kampot) for an alternative to Thailand.
The East Coast of Malaysia is pretty nice during our Australian winter, while the west coast is pretty much a year-round destination (Penang, Langkawi etc.)
The Philippines (Boracay etc .) is a perennial favorite too.
I would have promoted southern Myanmar if it wasn't for the unstable political situation and serious risk of violence. Although the south of the country is largely unaffected, I don't think the country, despite having reopened Yangon airport for business travellers, is ready for an influx of foreigners yet. No word on when tourist visas will be issued or when land borders will allow foreign travellers across. Perhaps end of the year things could settle down and that's when the weather will be dry again to explore the beaches and islands, which are some of the most beautiful in Asia.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
yes but fiji is much closer at 3 hours & much better. You can also do a stopover in Fiji on way to USA or Canada & fares are 1/2 to 1/3 of the insanely high qantas prices to USA at Xmas. You can almost set your clock in Fiji by rain in summer. 5pm it rains. 5.30pm it stops.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
True if you're on the East Coast. If you're in Perth or Darwin then you're much closer to Asia and might as well go to Bali, Phuket or somewhere like that.
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