Fiji Sets a Date for Welcoming Back Australian Travellers

Fiji is polishing their cocktail glasses as they set to welcome international travellers again with the South Pacific island officially releasing a date for when it will open its borders.

As Sydney enters its umpteenth week of lockdown, dreams of lounging on a tropical island with a cocktail in hand have been replaced with the drudgery of home-schooling and daily press conferences. But we are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel, even more so now that Fiji have set a date for when Australians can safely travel to the peaceful island nation.

When can Australians Travel to Fiji?

With a population of less than 1 million, it’s safe to say that vaccinating the whole island of Fiji would be a pretty quick task, so quick, in fact, that 58 per cent of the population is already fully vaccinated and 97 per cent have received their first vaccination. As of 12 September, 34 per cent of the Australian population is fully vaccinated with hundreds of thousands of Aussies rolling up their sleeves every day in a rush to get vaccinated and get some freedoms back, one of the most coveted freedoms being international travel.

International travel isn’t too far off the (vaccination passport) cards as Fiji has plans to open up to fully-vaccinated travellers from 1 November 2021. The Fijian Government has predicted that come 1 November, 80 per cent of its population will be fully vaccinated and ready to safely welcome international travellers, with Australian families top of the list of long-awaited travellers.

80 per cent fully vaccinated is also the magical number that Australia has set for the country to hit before international travel can resume, but November is a bit too soon for Aussies to jump on an aeroplane. The Morrison Government’s target of 80 per cent vaccination rates is likely to only be reached by December.

Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce has confirmed that Qantas plans to resume flights “to COVID-safe destinations" such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, Fiji, and New Zealand from the middle of December when 80 per cent of Australia's eligible population is expected to be vaccinated.

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Vaccination Passports Coming to Australia

The Fiji Government will be ready to welcome Australian travellers by November 2021 on the condition that all travellers over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated. Children under 12 will not need to be vaccinated. 

Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill is confident that Fiji and Australia’s venture into international travel in a Covid-19 world will be a safe one, "… if you've got a really strong level of local vaccination, coupled with only accepting fully vaccinated travellers who test negative before they get on the plane, then you're dramatically reducing the risk.” Mr Hill said.

Australian families keen to book that long-awaited holiday to Fiji will be pleased to hear that vaccination passports are coming to Australia to make international travel and proof of vaccination easier and safer. Currently, vaccinated Australians can access a Covid-19 digital certificate via their MyGov or Express Plus Medicare App, and it won’t be long until this certificate will be linked to our Australian passport chips along with a QR code you can access via your smartphone.

New South Wales is preparing to trial a vaccination passport in October. Time to start planning that holiday! If you need some travel inspo, here are the best family resorts in Fiji.

Hero image: Laucala Private Island Resort

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