Hotels feel pinch as NZ tourists stay home

By ALAN PERROTT and LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Adventurous Americans and backpackers are propping up the Fijian tourist industry as New Zealanders, Australians and Asians desert the troubled islands.

Hotels and resorts across the Fiji Islands all asked the same thing when contacted by the Herald: "Where are you all?"

They are worried that although the political situation seems to be stabilising, international travel advisories warning tourists against visiting the country show no sign of easing.

"If anything they are getting stronger," said John Gray, one of the New Zealand owners of the Wananavu Beach Resort, two hours out of Nadi.

"June was a disaster, but we were 80 per cent full for the first two weeks of July. But that has dropped dramatically with the travel advisories from various Governments warning people to get out of the country."

New Zealanders may be shying away from the islands, but Aucklander Greg McGaw, who last night returned from a holiday in Fiji, saw little evidence of social unrest.

Mr McGaw said his wife, Megan, and daughters, Kate and Grace, would definitely return to Fiji after eight "delightful" days at the Plantation Island resort. He believed the dangers had been blown out of proportion and the only noticeable effect of the coup was the lack of tourists.

"We'd booked months ago and we obviously considered the security issues before going, but the situation hadn't got any worse so we made the call.

"There was no military presence at all. You've probably got more likelihood of running into trouble here [in New Zealand] than in Fiji. We just did what we liked, hung around the resort, went fishing. It was great."

Meanwhile, Mr Gray said the Wananavu Beach Resort was now only 40 per cent full and those visitors were mostly from the United States.

"We've had no problems here apart from a few marches, so the warnings were a huge shock to the system. You only really get five months a year to make it in this industry, so if you don't make it then you're in trouble."

Mark McWhinnie, general manager of the three Fijian Sheraton resorts, said even the big resorts were hurting.

"It's been very depressed for what is normally our peak season. As a rough rule of thumb, we're about two-thirds down."

Erol Fifer, of the smaller Nadi Bay Hotel, said he was hiring big-name Fijian singers and putting on evening parties.

"We are trying to be positive, but, if anything, the travel warnings are being reinforced and people are staying away."

He said the Nadi Bay Hotel had no New Zealand visitors, but he was looking forward to the arrival of 25 American surfers this weekend.

New Zealand High Commissioner Tia Barrett said there was a "great sense of calm" in Suva, but tourists might not return until the unpredictable flare-ups over historic land disputes ended.

The commission was maintaining regular contact with the New Zealanders resident throughout Fiji, he said.

Air Pacific and Air New Zealand say bookings for flights leaving Fiji continue to be heavy.

More Fiji coup coverage

Main players in the Fiji coup

The hostages

Under seige: map of the Parliament complex

Fiji facts and figures

Images of the coup - a daily record