Fiji's rivals cash in

By CHRIS DANIELS

Fiji's political strife may prove a coup for other Pacific holiday spots trying to attract New Zealand travellers.

Penny Henderson, regional director of the Fiji Visitors Bureau, said tourists were arriving in the country from all markets other than New Zealand.

Japan and New Zealand were the only countries where Governments had issued travel warnings, making it difficult for tourists to get insurance for their holiday.

"Because the country has taken this stance a number of the large travel insurers will not cover people travelling to Fiji.

"Tourists were not covered even if they got sick and could not travel, or lost their bags," she said.

Penny Henderson said tourists would notice a difference in Fiji, with roadblocks, more police about and a definite feeling of tension.

"We are recommending people don't go to Suva; go to Fiji but don't go to Suva."

"There is a bit of tension there, no one is going to deny that, I would prefer to describe it as concern for what is happening next."

Resort managers were recommending their guests stayed on the grounds, but "90 per cent of people do that anyway." She said it had taken the Fijian tourism industry around 10 years to recover from the impact of the 1987 coups.

Chief executive of Destination Queenstown, David Kennedy, said while he had not yet heard of any travellers trading in the Fiji sun for Queenstown snow, he did expect more interest.

Queenstown was on the "resort list" so the situation in Fiji would have advantages for New Zealand tourism.

"It does usually transpire into benefits for Queenstown and other resorts in the region," he said. "Often people might have a winter holiday planned two years out and thinking of a summer Pacific holiday the next year. Now they just might change."

New Zealand sales and marketing manager for Garuda Indonesia, Alan Wilcock, said Bali inquiries had "gone through the roof" since news of the Suva hostage situation had hit.

"Interest has certainly increased, obviously it is very sad for Fiji, but they have gone up.

"We do compete with Fiji for sun, sea, shopping and people will look for alternatives, certainly Bali is one of the best."

Packages were currently $1199 for 10 nights, whereas Fiji packages tended to be around $700 to $800.

"Let's face it, Indonesia has had its problems with political and social unrest over the past few years, noone likes to bag another destination, but Bali is certainly a good alternative to Fiji."

Mr Wilcock said the Gold Coast tended to do well when there was trouble in Fiji.

A spokeswoman for Tourism Queensland agreed, saying that while it was too early to point to any surge in ticket sales, a spin-off for the Gold Coast was expected. Fiji provided the toughest competition for the New Zealand market and the recent trouble had erupted at exactly the same time as a major advertising campaign promoting Queensland began.

A Herald travel tipster, Chris Rutherford, arrived in Fiji on the day before the coup.

Our tipster e-mails that the Fijians remain friendly and warm.He walked through the city centre in the evening in the company of an Indian family and they were quick to tell him they felt no fear for their safety.

"It seems there will be little impact felt outside Suva.

"My advice would be to stick with holiday plans, there is no ill feeling to tourists even in Suva. For those heading to the offshore islands through Nadi, there should be a nil impact and in fact there could be some good specials offered as inevitably the nervous back out of booked holidays.

"After the coup the sun still rose and set in Suva. The Fijians continue to smile at me in the street and the weather remains humid and inviting."

However, the Insurance Council of New Zealand suggests that people visiting Fiji may have difficulty getting travel insurance.

Many insurers are not selling insurance after the Foreign Affairs Ministry advised against non-essential travel to Fiji.