Care Fiji Commitment receives World Travel and Tourism Council recognition

Fiji’s Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) Programme has received recognition by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a global body on Travel and Tourism.

With this recognition, Fijian tourism businesses that have made the Care Fiji Commitment can access both the CFC branding tools and the globally recognised WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp.

The WTTC ‘Safe Travels’ stamp allows travellers to recognise destinations and companies adopting health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with WTTC’s Global Safe Travels Protocols.

With the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp added to it, the CFC gives increased confidence to international travelers and will help ensure a seamless travel experience as border restrictions ease.  The globally recognised stamp has been adopted by many other destinations across the world and serves as an important signal to travellers, workers and other stakeholders that there is a consistent global approach to health and safety best practices.

Tourism Fiji and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport officially launched the Care Fiji Commitment in October 2020 and have been delighted by the enthusiastic reception by the industry so far.  For tourism businesses to participate in the programme, they must nominate a Wellness Ambassador, undertake extensive training on COVID-19 safe best practices and develop a comprehensive action plan to ensure alignment with the Fijian Government’s COVID-19 Safe Guidelines for tourism businesses.

To date, Tourism Fiji has seen a total of 182 nominated Wellness Ambassadors, 155 of whom have completed the training programme and 81 of whom have submitted their action plans under the Programme.

To be endorsed by WTTC, Tourism Fiji submitted Fiji’s best practice protocols defined in the Fijian Government’s COVID-19 Safe Guidelines for tourism businesses and the comprehensive process involved for businesses to make the Care Fiji Commitment.

“We absolutely love the sound of the Care Fiji Commitment and we are happy to say your protocols align well with our suggested ones,” said a representative from WTTC. “The addition of the WTTC safe stamp allows for an extra international ‘seal of approval’ for Fiji.  Therefore, we would love to issue you the stamp.”

The Hon Attorney-General and Acting Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, highlighted how achieving global recognition reinforces Fiji’s commitment to prioritising the health and safety of visitors and Fijians alike.

“Fiji has remained one of the World’s safest places throughout this terrible pandemic, and we know many of our friends around the world are aching to be back in our islands. Our tourism industry has taken extraordinary measures to build a COVID-safe travel experience – and those efforts have now received WTTC-accreditation. When our borders re-open, visitors to Fiji can be confidently assured that we are quite serious about keeping them safe and keeping COVID-19 out of our communities.”

Tourism Fiji Acting CEO Robert Thompson said, “The Safe Travels stamp means our programme follows the World Travel & Tourism Council’s international protocols. Our team is working hard to ensure that all businesses in the tourism sector are signed up for the Care Fiji Commitment programme. We’re encouraging other companies that have not expressed their interest to do so by reaching out to our team.”

(Source: Fiji’s MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, TRADE, TOURISM & TRANSPORT)