Tan Yifan cicitan2011@gmail.com FIJI, an island country in Oceania, the South Pacific, has returned to woo Chinese tourists as its airways resumed flights to Hong Kong in Q1 after COVID-imposed travel restrictions were lifted. The country, which consists of 333 unique islands, is not far from New Zealand. Robert Thompson, Tourism Fiji’s executive head of regions, led his team last week to a roadshow arranged by Dong Luxury Travel Collection in Sanya, Hainan Province to promote Fiji and its new slogan “Fiji, where happiness comes naturally” to over 130 institutional buyers from China. “Happiness is everything. It is in our culture and mentality. We try to get the message out that when you come to Fiji you’ll have a wonderful experience because happiness is at the center of everything we do. It’s a feeling that you’ll take away with you, even after the journey,” said Thompson, who expressed his ambition to bring visitors back from one of Fiji’s largest tourist markets prior to the pandemic. “China has always been quite important to us. Its market grew very quickly to rank fourth, following Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Its luxury market is still growing, for which we have high expectations,” he said. According to Thompson, the first official flight from Hong Kong to Fiji was fully packed and the weekly flight from Hong Kong will increase in the future. “Think of Fiji as an option. Come to visit us and find out why happiness comes naturally. This is my message to the Chinese travelers,” said Thompson. Revenue generated by tourism has accounted for about 40% of the country’s GDP. While expanding its tourism industry, Thompson said his country is striving for sustainable development. “Fiji has just hired a sustainability officer and is making an effort to remove plastics from the system,” he added. Best time to visit Fiji is a tropical country with warm temperatures throughout the year. It has two distinct seasons, a dry season which is drier and cooler, and a wet season which is hotter and more humid. The dry season or winter season runs from May to November, when the temperatures fluctuate between 19 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius. It is a great time for swimming, surfing, scuba diving and catching fish. Places to explore Coral Coast For the ideal mix of beach and highland experiences, head to the Coral Coast on Viti Levu’s southern coast. It is known for its secluded bays, beautiful beaches and fringing coral reef. Scattered with family-friendly resorts, there are lots of opportunities for outdoor adventures such as snorkeling, hiking on the massive Sigatoka Sand Dunes, jetboat rides up the Sigatoka River, coastal rail rides with Ecotrax, or visits to traditional Fijian villages such as Nadiri. Savusavu Savusavu is a small town on the lush southern coast of Vanua Levu. The region is known for incredible diving experiences in Savusavu Bay and Natewa Bay. From KokoMana’s sustainable chocolate tours, lazy river tubing floats on the Salt Lake to cool dips beneath Vuadomo’s thundering waterfall, there are plenty of ways to explore it. Yasawa Islands With its string of 20-plus islands, rugged volcanic peaks and secluded beaches, the islands off the northwestern coast of Viti Levu is a popular destination for all types of travelers. Adventurers will find plenty to do, from diving among pristine reefs and hiking to scenic hilltop lookouts to exploring the Yasawas’ white sandy beaches. Mamanucas Mamanucas’ picture-perfect islands and abundance of water sports make it one of Fiji’s most popular destinations. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, from surfing or SUPing (Stand-Up Paddling) waves at spots like Cloudbreak, or chilling at Seventh Heaven, to simply soaking up the sun on one of the many daytrip islands. Suncoast Suncoast is located at the heart of Viti Levu. Its Navala Village is one of the few villages where people still build houses known as “bure” using traditional techniques and materials. With its mountain backdrop and neat rows of bures surrounding a central “rara” (grassy village green), Navala Village is picture perfect. Bring some cash The currency in Fiji is Fijian Dollars. While credit/debit cards are accepted in major resorts and businesses in Fiji’s towns, you’d better have cash available for taxis and visiting villages. (Travel tips are provided by Tourism Fiji.) | 