'Business as usual' for tourists says Fiji bureau

Fiji's visitor bureau is advising New Zealanders it is "business as usual" in the Pacific nation after Australia told its citizens to be aware of rising political tensions there.

The Government here has not issued a travel warning for Fiji, and does not plan to, but a local newspaper reported up to 300 New Zealanders had cancelled holidays in the wake of Wednesday's revised Australian advisory.

Bureau regional director Paresh Pant told the Herald last night he had been asked by a number of travel retailers about security because of the Australian advisory and after a TVNZ report this week speculated about another coup in Fiji.

"There have been calls made to our office seeking reassurances. In terms of people holidaying, nothing's changed. It's business as usual."

The unrest centres on a proposed new "reconciliation" law which critics say could see those responsible for the 2000 coup, including George Speight, granted an amnesty and freed from jail.

Opposition to the legislation is widespread, including from the man Speight's coup ousted as Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Military head Commodore Frank Bainimarama has been an outspoken critic of the legislation, and sparked international concern this month by suggesting if those responsible for the coup were released, he might use the Army to topple the Government.

That has raised long-running tensions between Mr Bainimarama and Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Administration.

While Prime Minister Helen Clark has advised Mr Qarase about New Zealand's concerns over the law, no travel warning is planned.

Australia's revised advisory noted there were political tensions around public consultation on the law, although it is not now expected back before Parliament for many months.

The Fiji Times newspaper reported 300 New Zealanders had cancelled holidays.

It quoted Fiji Visitors Bureau chief executive Viliame Gavoka criticising the TVNZ report, which featured local man Vilikesa Raqio saying secret Israeli specialists were being trained to protect the Government against any military uprising.

Sources discounted Mr Raqio's claims to the Herald and said a coup was not expected, in part because Mr Bainimarama could not rely on sufficient support within the military. Mr Gavoka told the Fiji Times Mr Raqio would be better off if he went back to his village to plant cassava.

New Zealand tourism to Fiji fell away after the 2000 coup, but has boomed in the last year with increased and cheaper flights.

According to the latest Statistics New Zealand figures, short-term visits to Fiji grew by 27.4 per cent in the year to June, topping 103,000.