Whyte Remains Optimistic

The Sigatoka River Safari has this year incurred a substantial loss because of COVID-19.

However, managing director Jay Whyte is adamant that business would soon pick up for them.

He said as a result of the pandemic the business had only been able to employ a few of its staff.

“So obviously with what’s happening with the worldwide pandemic tourism has to hold in March this year and in around June of 2020 we had decided we open up one day a week and offer the river jets Fiji offers to the local market,” he said.

“And with that one day a week we were able to generate a little bit of money and keep a few people employed and basically keep the business taking over until hopeful we can start to see tourists return to Fiji.

“At the moment we are operating with just four staff at the river jet, the team is normally 28 so can you see the impact it’s had on the business.

“Thankfully a lot of the team members come from the villagers and they have been able to stay in the village, use the land and the river.”

Mr White said they partnered with the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort to allow some of its tourists to take advantage of what they had to offer.

“For those who chose to stay with the resort they can then combine their stay in the resort with an activity here with the River Jet Fiji and it’s a great way to spend the weekend.

“If you want to quantify typically in terms of the river safari we will be having thousands of people in the whole year and it’s gone to zero and for the river jets you’ve got 100 and now it’s down to 10.

“It’s a massive impact and we are not alone. We are part of the broad industry that really has been heavily impacted here in Fiji and all around the world.

“The strength of the industry is that we are very resilient and we always band together to help each other and that will always be the same now and well into the future.”

(Source: Fiji Times 08 December 2020)