With international borders reopened to full-vaccinated visitors, Fijian nationals and tourists are welcomed back to Fiji ahead of the holiday season.

Wednesday 15th December, 2021

Christmas is a time for families to reconnect and celebrate together. After a challenging year beset with lockdowns and travel restrictions, this Christmas will be a particularly meaningful one for many Fijian families.

Visitors from overseas were recently welcomed back to Fijian shores for the first time in close to two years.

If you’re With international borders closed for more than 600 days, the reopening was a joyous occasion for many, and an indication of a return to normalcy in time for the holiday season.

The first tourist flight to arrive in Fiji since the lifting of border closures touched down in Nadi International Airport on Wednesday December 1, welcoming visitors from Sydney Australia.

Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen claimed that the reopening of borders and the return of international tourism would help to jump start the economy.

“We have been waiting for this day for the past 20 months,” he said.

The virtual shuttering of the tourism industry since last year due to the pandemic spelled a long period of uncertainty for many locals employed in the hotel, airline, tourism and hospitality sectors

With around 90% of Fijian adults now fully vaccinated, borders were re-opened to fully vaccinated visitors from Travel Partner countries.

Tourism Fiji chief executive Brent Hill has said that 75,000 overseas tourists have booked to travel to Fiji over the coming months.

Although Fiji managed to avoid the worst of the COVID pandemic during its early stages, 2021 has been a difficult year since the April outbreak of the Delta variant.

With lockdowns and restrictions affecting provinces around the country for many months, a return to unrestricted domestic travel and carefully managed international tourism means many families are able to reunite ahead of the holiday period, with a clearer future in sight.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama posted to Facebook at the beginning of the month, welcoming Fijian nationals and tourists alike, ahead of borders reopening.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama posted to Facebook at the beginning of the month, welcoming Fijian nationals and tourists alike, ahead of borders reopening.

"Today, we are proud and most importantly prepared to welcome the first tourists to fly to Fiji in almost two years. Our message to every fully-vaccinated, COVID-tested traveller who arrives to our shores is simple: Welcome Home,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said in a post on Facebook.

Fully-vaccinated overseas visitors either from a Travel Partner country, or having stayed in a Travel Partner for at least 14 days prior to arriving in Fiji, are allowed to visit Fiji.

As of 09/12/2021, Travel Partner countries include American Samoa, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Greece, Guam, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Travellers aged 18+ must have digital/ paper certification of full-vaccination status at least 14 days prior to travel. Fiji recognises Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines only.

Travellers aged 12+ must have a negative RT-PCR test taken within three days of departure.

All travellers arriving in Fiji must have a minimum three-night booking in place with a CFC-certified accomodation provider and confirmed approved transfer from the airport.

Travellers visiting Fiji for the purpose of a holiday must also have taken out medical travel insurance, with international coverage that includes COVID-19