Announcements and Updates: From the FHTA CEO’s desk

As many of you will already be aware, we have been working very closely with the Ministries of Health and Tourism, as well as Tourism Fiji to navigate the requirements for visitor and staff testing.

While the details of the logistics of taking the test, reading and actioning the results as well as getting the tests to the nearest labs and then accessing the subsequent report are being worked through for sharing with you later, the following information is to assist you to understand how the process will work. For now.

Tourism Fiji has a comprehensive FAQ section that you should refer to for clarity around general travel requirements. You can access this here fiji.travel/FAQ and includes information on booking conditions, vaccination rates, travelling with children, selecting resorts, testing and returning home, amongst other information.

We remind everyone in the industry that the stipulated requirements for reopening to international travel must be viewed as precautionary measures deemed currently necessary by the Ministry of Health & Medical Services to keep our communities, staff and guests safer. We expect that these will be reviewed downwards and/or eventually removed when vaccination levels increase further and it is considered safe to do so.

Our compliance and support of these measures as an industry ensure we remain committed to getting tourism back up again while keeping the people we are responsible for as safe as possible.

TESTS – Rapid Antigen
• A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)is required to be taken on the 3rd day by every visitor coming into Fiji.
• Every hotel staff member must be tested at least once, every month and we will provide the training and details of how this is done.
• Results will be noted in a template, in timeframes and sent to Ministry of Health contacts – all of which will be provided once confirmed.
• Proof of a negative RAT is required for re-entry into the US.
• Positive RAT’s are followed up with a PCR test and a specific list of actions will be provided for following, based on the results.

TESTS – RT PCR
• Proof of a negative RT-PCR test is required for re-entry into Australia (at this stage).
• These tests need to be done by medical professionals or trained laboratory staff.
• Medical professionals and labs are duty-bound to notify the Ministry of Health of any positive results.
• Hotels & Resorts can access a medical centre, hospital or medical professional nearest to them where they can either send guests or have them come directly to the hotel. Private labs will also be offering a direct to hotel service option with results sent back as part of packaged costs that will also be shared in updated information.
• Indicative costs for PCR tests are between FJ$150-$200 depending on whether they are swabbing and/or testing.

SUPPLIERS & TEST KITS
The list of current suppliers and approved test kits are noted below. These will be added to as they change or increase. All suppliers have to be approved by the Ministry of Health. If you wish to import your own supplies, you will need the approval to do so as well.

Test kits are understood to have a long shelf-life so can be purchased in large quantities if required and smaller operators may consider pooling resources to access better per-unit costs.

ACCESSING LABS FOR TEST RESULTS
Tourism Fiji and FHTA are working with the Ministry of Health to manage testing, logistics for accessing labs, turnaround times for results and accessing test results.

Once this has been confirmed by next week, this will be shared widely to allow you to plan your own pathways.

With labs accessible around Fiji, we expect to divide the access to each lab by region to support the fastest possible turnaround of results once the information on each lab output is understood.

CFC NEW REQUIREMENTS
The Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) protocols have been updated in line with the Reopening Framework, vaccination legislation and health protocols. A reminder on the need for this to be part of your reopening requirements has been in almost all our membership correspondence since last year.

Tourism operators without a CFC compliance will not be able to operate, international and local guests will be advised not to use your services and Tourism Fiji will not be promoting you as a product or service.

All CFC compliant businesses will be provided recognisable decals to advertise their compliance status visibly. It is your responsibility to be a COVID compliant tourism business in Fiji.

Certification for hotels & resorts
All accommodation providers will be required to be certified as being CFC compliant. There are key areas that require adherence and proof of the hotel staff’s capability to manage risks, ensure COVID safe processes are consistently followed and monitor guest and staff behaviour in observing the health protocols. If you have not already been CFC approved, you must ensure your property has registered with Tourism Fiji (portal here). If you are already CFC approved, the process for certification is just a few more specific, but simple steps to complete this process

Approval for Transport Providers
Transport providers (marine, land & air) will need to be CFC Approved.

If you have not already registered, you should do so immediately so that the scheduled training sessions can include you and your Wellness Ambassadors.

Even taxis and rental car companies must be CFC compliant if working within the tourism ambit.

FHTA understands that our members are already currently struggling to address the many industry-related challenges for getting reopening ready and compliant. We are also very aware that the logistics for accessing tests, labs and reports add another level of challenges and we are working through these to provide as many viable options as we can.

We often forget that the tourism industry has survived political upheavals, floods, cyclones, disease outbreaks and industrial strikes in the last 50 years. We WILL get through this as well! Together.

Fantasha Lockington
Chief Executive Officer | Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association
exec@fhta.com.fj (+679) 9926980