Whats Good Pacific?
Where is Fiji?
Fiji is a group of 333 South Pacific islands (and countless islets). Part of Melanesia, the archipelago lies south-east of Papua New Guinea, east of Vanuatu and north-west of Tonga, and sits roughly at the same latitude as Cairns, Australia. Fiji was a British colony until 1970. Following a series of coups d’etat, it was declared a republic in 1987. The main (and largest) island of Viti Levu is home to the capital, Suva, and gateway city of Nadi (pronounced ‘Nandi’). The airport here is connected to more than 20 international destinations. Visitors overnighting near Nadi usually head to Denarau Island, home to nine resorts and hotels. Denarau also houses a marina, from where you board ferries and boats to reach smaller, more scenic islands. Fiji’s second-largest island is Vanua Levu.
What languages do they speak?
Fiji’s three official languages are English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi (Indo-Fijians make up 38 percent of the population).
What’s there for visitors?
Visiting Fiji is all about soaking up tropical island life. Divers and snorkellers are drawn to Fiji, known as the soft coral capital of the world, for its eye-popping underwater pleasures. Others come to laze on a beach, enjoy time in a spa and slurp cocktails (or a half-shell or two of kava) by the pool.
Another attraction is the warmth and friendliness of Fijians, who greet visitors with an exuberant “bula”.
What makes the economy tick?
With tourism a major economic driver (morethan 12,000 hotel rooms are offered across the islands), the pandemic left a deep scar. Many tourism professionals returned to their villages to help on family farms. However, visitor arrivals in June this year topped numbers for June 2019, solidifying Fiji’s tourism bounceback. Fiji also manufactures garments, which are among the country’s major exports along with bottled water, fish and sugar.
What is the currency?
Fiji’s currency is the Fijian dollar.
What are the highlights?
Take your pick of how you want to enjoy Fiji’s picture-postcard islands. From Denarau Marina, embark on a day trip – maybe to Mana Island, where the US Survivor TV series is filmed – or head out to a party pontoon such as Cloud 9 off Malolo Island. On Viti Levu’s Coral Coast, Sigatoka River Safari is an adrenalin-pumping jet boat ride incorporating a village visit.
Anything unusual?
Fiji’s only UNESCO World Heritage site is on the island of Ovalau, off Viti Levu’s east coast. Inscribed on the list in 2013, Levuka Historical Port Town was Fiji’s first colonial capital and a bustling hub bursting with bars and boarding houses. With copra sheds, bond stores, port facilities and religious, educational and social institutions intermingled with indigenous villages, it’s a fascinating example of co-existing European, US and islander cultures. Today, you can still visit the timber post office, built in the 1870s, which was Fiji’s first post office. After the capital relocated, a ‘pigeongram’ service operated between Levuka and Suva, with pigeons delivering news to The Fiji Times in a mere 22 minutes.
_Paradise Magazine / Whats Good Pacific
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