Fiji Coup
May 29th, 2000, 08:56 AM
#1
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Fiji Coup
In spite of some my prior postings, I no longer encourage people to visit Fiji at this time. The split between the eastern and western factions of the Fijian people appears to be more severe that I had thought. The opportunist Speight, who could care less about Fijian rights, seems to front actions that were in the planning stages just after the elections of May 1999. At this point, with the resignation of Mara, the possible nullification of the constitution, and the establishment of martial law, it appears that Fiji is pointed towards a new government and constitution dictated by the Fijians behind the coup. For the sake of the wealth and power of a few, it would appear that today's Fijian economy will be destroyed providing real pain and hardships to the Fijian people. <BR>It may well create internal strife between sections of the Fijians. I hope this does not play out but it seems to me that things have gone too far and those that appear to be moving into power have turned their backs on the rest of the world and the damage that sanctions can do to their nation. <BR> <BR>As of today, Great Britain and Australia are suggesting that their people leave and New Zealand suggests that their people have plans ready for departure. The USA as usual does not appear to be fully up to date since their last posting is as of May 22. Perhaps everybody left early for the long weekend. It would appear that air travel may be affected soon if the Australian boycott starts. <BR> <BR>While, I do not feel that anybody in Fiji has any rancor against foreign visitors there is a growing danger in being caught in the cross fire. Also, if things continue in the current direction, there will be great shortages of key items and possible unrest caused by the poverty that is bound to grow. <BR> <BR>I think it is now best to take Fiji off your travel plans until the current situation fully plays out and this might take a long time.
May 29th, 2000, 12:29 PM
#3
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Perhaps the people that are just returned from Fiji will post there reactions. One of the best sites for current infomation is http://www.fijilive.com as long as they let it continue to run. There are a large variety of comments on their forum. There are other sites with good reporting but this is the only site in Fiji and in Suva I believe. It may continue to run since it has been very even handed and it really does not reach the local Fijian people. The coup leadings have already indicated directly by there statements that they don't really care what the rest of the world thinks. Based on conditions reported there today, I would suggest that you keep your options open until the last minute. If things get worse, there is danger that you could get stuck in Fiji if plane schedules are disrupted.
May 31st, 2000, 08:51 AM
#5
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Myself and 2 females have reservations for 5 nights on the Coral Coast and 5 nights on one of the Mamanusa (sp??) Islands starting in 5 weeks. We're not liking what we're hearing on the Internet about the escalation of the rioting in Suva. We concerned about staying on the Coral Coast, so close to Suva, and traveling through Nadi with the possibility of flight delays or cancellations. We're opting to cancel our Fiji plans and go elsewhere. Not sure where at this point - Cook Islands and other areas booked at this late date. Maybe Kauai, but afraid to venture to Fiji. I've been looking forward to visiting Fiji for a long time - it's too bad this horrible thing is happening.
May 31st, 2000, 01:20 PM
#6
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Hi: I just canceled my trip to Fiji - even though I was hellbent on going before. Our deposits are being put towards a future vacation, which is pretty fair but I guess I will lose my airline tickets unless they decide that they cant fly there? Anyone else get refunds? Anyway Im off to Thailand instead - maybe Fiji next year.
May 31st, 2000, 03:14 PM
#7
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We're booked with Air Pacific for July 7. Right now they're refunding everyone until June 30. We're waiting to see if they'll extend the refunds. Our travel insurance only covers an "incident" for 30 days after the "occurrence". Since it happened May 18 (U.S. time), we're only covered until June 18. We'll fight them saying it's an ongoing incident and there are U.S. State Dept. travel warnings. Not sure what outcome will be. I'd like to go to Fiji next year if things are straightened around by then. Have fun on your trip!
May 31st, 2000, 04:49 PM
#9
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Thank you for your message Anne, I have my flight booked on June 30th so if they refund my money that will be great. I spoke via email to the resort we were staying and this situation is really hurting the people who are trying to make their living. I will certainly visit Fiji in the future -- maybe even before the end of this year if everything is ok. What a pity for everyone. Hope everything works out for you, Im sure it will. Best regards, Anne P.
May 31st, 2000, 05:17 PM
#10
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Hi: I just called Quantas, I had booked a special offer no refund Air Pacific flight with them. As of now, they are refunding everyone for all dates, I asked her to reconfirm that she said "all dates" and she said right now its a blanket policy and they will refund everyone for all dates but the situation is changing all the time. Call them ASAP. Best regards, A.P.
Jun 2nd, 2000, 09:31 PM
#12
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We left for Fiji on May 20th. Air Pacific nor travel insurnace would refund at that timeso it would have been a big chunk of money lost. SO we decided to go & for us it was alright. We transferred at Nadi to Vatulele (fantastic!) & upon return May 31 there was martial law, armed guards at the airport entry points & curfew imposed. We had no problems & at the time you would honestly not know there was a problem except for the news. I wouldn't necessarily encourge people to go though since you cannot predict what may happen. It is a terrible shame. Fiji is wonderful. There were 7 couples flying into the resort the day we were leaving though. There had been no flight disruptions at that time. Though I must say our flight there was 2/3 empty & the flight back was packed. The Embassy families came back on that flight also.
Jun 8th, 2000, 08:35 AM
#13
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Although I haven't been to Fiji since the Spreight coup, as the author of Fiji Handbook (www.southpacific.org/fiji.html) I'd say that you'd be quite safe going at this time, so long as you avoided Suva. Flight disruptions are a possibility, but so long as you can cope with that, you'll probably have the place to yourself. The people of Fiji need our solidarity right now and turning our backs on them by vacationing elsewhere isn't going to make things any better. Peggy, your report was helpful. Has anyone else out there been to Fiji since the coup?
Jun 8th, 2000, 09:15 AM
#14
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It upsetting to think we are turning our backs on Fiji by cancelling our vacations. I do not think that is the case at all. In fact, I will visit Fiji at some time and would love to - I have left my deposit at my resort to be used in the future -- but, unfortunately, we have jobs and families that we have to return to on time, and the mere hint of flight disruptions would deter me from visiting anywhere. It is a shame, both for us and for Fiji. Myself and my husband were very dissapointed, but unless they manage to resolve any problems the reality is that people cannot afford to take the chance of delays.
Jun 8th, 2000, 01:50 PM
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I just cancelled my flight and July honeymoon plans to Fiji. I was booked on Air New Zealand on a special offer with no refunds. They are currently refunding all flights within 2 weeks of the travel date. I had to haggle with them a bit in order to get them to give me a refund. Similar to Anne, I did lose $725 of my deposit that I had put down for the resort I was staying at. I don't feel I am turning my back on them, especially when the US, Australia and New Zealand are threatening economic sanctions. The loss in tourism dollars will be even greater if sanctions are placed on Fiji. In fact, I was surprised that the resort would not give me more of my deposit back. The least the resorts could do would be to honor deposits for some time in the future when things settle a bit. This would encourage tourism rather than discourage it and help business pick up again after the situation improves. I would not mind visiting Fiji in a few months or next year if my full deposit was still honored at the resort. <BR> <BR>I had a wonderful honeymoon planned and was quite looking forward to it. And as David pointed out I am sure the upmarket resorts that I was planning to visit would not be affected by the situation. However, in addition to the possibility of having flight disruptions, I was not looking forward to visiting a country under martial law where some lunatic terrorist is holding a democratically elected government hostage at gunpoint. This kinda puts a damper on a honeymoon, if you know what I mean. <BR> <BR>I have rebooked for Bali (which I originally avoided booking due to the political situation in Indonesia). Booking a last minute trip to Bali was no problem and I am greatly looking forward to a relaxing and pampered honeymoon. <BR> <BR>My decision to cancel was based on information I obtained from this forum in addition to following the news at <BR>http://news.excite.com/international/australia/ <BR>and <BR>http://www.fijilive.com <BR>The news releases painted a realistic picture of what was going on over there. While the reports that I received from those in the tourism industry were largely positive and encouraged visiting. <BR> <BR>Dave, thanks also for your informative book. I too, read it cover to cover. In fact, I used a recommended travel agent from the book to make arrangements for my plans to Fiji and also to Bali.
Jun 8th, 2000, 08:25 PM
#17
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Everyone has to make a decision that they are comfortable with, whether it is to go or to cancel. Having just returned from Vatulele, I can understand the comments from the agents verses the news. The reports are based on problems in Suva. The night before we left the chat room based in Suva was warning us not to come & from their vantange point that is understandable. But there were no problems in Nadi at the airport & we were there under martial law. If you didn't know better you would not know there was a problem & we have been to Fiji many times so have a basis for comparison. Most of the time you just get to the airport & caught a flight to an outer island where there is no unrest. The Indian/Fijian problems are on Viti Levu. On the outer islands you will just encounter Fijians. This is not meant to encourge people to go if they are uncomfortable but just to relay a personal experience. If things got bad they would cease flights as they did in Oct 1987 (when ironically we were also booked to go there & wound going to Tahiti instead!)
Jun 12th, 2000, 10:03 PM
#18
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Regarding the discussion on travel cancellations to Fiji, see the following news release: <BR> <BR>http://news.excite.com/news/ap/00060...ttered-economy <BR> <BR>I found this particularly interesting: <BR>"Any operator that tells you this crisis is not having an effect is telling an untruth."
Jun 13th, 2000, 09:59 AM
#19
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An update on our situation: 3 women scheduled to fly to Nadi on July 7, spend 5 nights on Coral Coast and 5 nights on one of the Mamanosa (sp??) Islands. Our 7/7 flight has been cancelled and rescheduled to 7/8. (2 of us are Air Pacific travelers and haven't been advised yet. One traveler is flying Air Pacific with us but bought ticket through American and they advised her last week!) Air Pacific has been refunding through 6/30 for sometime, but won't refund for one week later. They've offered us credit to fly within one year. Not sure we want to do that - not sure what the condition of the islands will be in one year. Our travel agent has secured land deposit but will not refund to us; will credit us if we book through her within one year; if not, she takes cancellation penalties from deposit. Not happy with situation at all and don't feel safe traveling to Fiji with the current situation. <BR> <BR>P.S. We bought travel insurance and they won't cover anything. ????
