Dylan in dry dock
There’s a beauty about Fiji that goes beyond the sunsets, sunrises, sea, surf and sand. The Fijian people are one of, if not THE, most beautiful people in the world.
Those of you who have been following our adventures in Dylan the housebus, towing Edith the Suzuki and travelling with Billy the awesome Greyhound, may be wondering what Fiji has to do with anything? In May we spent a week there and it was far from our first time.
Having lived in Fiji in the 70’s, it’s a lot like coming home. I remember the music, the food, the sea and the people. With tourists returning in droves to the pacific islands, it was fascinating speaking with so many working in the tourism sector about what they have been doing for the last two years and how things are now.
Overwhelmingly there is a real joy at being back at the resorts and other related businesses, with most mentioning their friends, their work colleagues who they had not seen for many months; some not for the entire two year break.
Simeli who is a food and beverage assistant at a well-known resort, helped his grandmother fish back in their village and sold hot sweetcorn by the side of the road after the pandemic pretty much closed the borders. He told me this with no sadness, bitterness or regret. He is so happy to be back.
Kesa also works in a Coral Coast resort restaurant and has three children. Over the last 18 months with no resort work, she too helped family at her village farm and sold produce at a roadside stall. “We all worked together,” she says. “It was tough but we shared what we could and even some regular guests sent money and some groceries. All I want to say is come and visit us; we are so glad to be back and we want to see everyone here soon.”
The overriding theme in what these amazingly resilient and positive Fijians told me all came back to working together as a community.
They missed one another often staying in touch using social media while living what was essentially a subsistence lifestyle for 18-24 months. Now as occupancy rates steadily increase every week, more of the resort employees are coming back from the villages. And the bookings are going nuts.
The occupancy rates at most Denarau resorts are sitting at about 90% as I write this, and the Coral Coast resorts – filled with families mainly from Australia and New Zealand – are also nudging mid 80%. I am told there are periods later in the year where there is no room at all across the islands.
The big issue will be flights. There is obviously some occupancy however there aren’t the seats to get people here. Let’s hope that changes and everyone who wants to, who is fortunate enough to be able to, can come to this amazing place which is home to the most wonderful people in the world. Kesa, Sulu, Simeli, Tue’e, Manu, Jonacin – vanaka vakalevu (thank you very much) and ni sa moce (goodbye). Until next time.