Fiji suffering worst tourism peak season in 20 years
A Fiji tourism industry leader says the country has suffered the worst holiday season in terms of tourist numbers in nearly 20 years.
The chairman of the Tourism and Transportation Council, Jim Sherlock, says they have weathered the aftermath of three coups in Fiji, but this is the worst of all.
July and August are usually the peak months for holidaymakers in the country.
Mr Sherlock, who also owns a resort in Pacific Harbour, told Radio New Zealand International that only two of his 22-rooms are occupied, and his staff are taking home less than half their usual pay.
”Absolutely diabolical.” “I’m only just holding in there, but the ones who aren’t coping well is my team.” “I’ve got 22 people on my staff and they’re averaging about 75 dollars a week take-home pay.” “That’s who I really feel the sanctions are really hurting.”
Jim Sherlock says resorts across the rest of Fiji are about half-full on average.
He has rubbished the latest figures from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, which say total hotel occupancy levels in the year to March were up two per cent on last year.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports