I apologise that this article is so political and – at more than 6000 words – is so long, indeed the longest I have ever written in these columns. But it is my last one for some time and I have a lot to say. I also apologise that it is so personal, some might say self-indulgently so. But I have a lot to get off my chest.
We have just had a parliamentary session dominated by almost everything other than the needs of cyclone victims or the hundreds of thousands of people suffering because of the covid-induced economic crisis. It was a spectacle that has triggered widespread community dismay and resentment at the apparent lack of empathy of fat-cat MPs and especially those on the FijiFirst government benches.
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Feb 18, 2021 03:01:24 PM Fiji is continuing to push for a travel bubble between its major tourist markets Australia and New Zealand. Tourism Minister Faiyaz Koya said the government was optimistic its regional partners would come to the table. Koya said visitors would still need to meet the requirements under the Bula Bubble scheme. We have not forgotten the Bula Bubble , he said. Fiji is in high-level discussions with our Australian and New Zealand counterparts to actually see if we can facilitate quarantine-free travel. Again, this cannot happen overnight and there are a whole host of things to consider and we will continue to lobby for travel with our largest markets.
Fiji is continuing to push for a travel bubble between its major tourist markets Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji s borders have been closed since last March and with New Zealand and Australia still battling Covid-19 cases at home, the wait maybe longer.
Tourism staff in Fiji greet visitors to their resort in the Yasawa Islands
Photo: Kate Livingstone
But the government said Fiji had proven itself as a safe destination for travels during the pandemic with no cases recorded over 300 days.
Tourism Minister Faiyaz Koya said the government was optimistic its regional partners would come to the table.
Koya said visitors would still need to meet the requirements under the Bula Bubble scheme.