Fiji Is Ready To Welcome Canadians

Fiji Airways is preparing to link Vancouver with the Fijian city of Nadi, a route it’s confident will entice large numbers of Canadians to the South Pacific destination as travel rebounds.

Airline staff and Tourism Fiji personnel alike are applauding the route, which will see twice-weekly service start Nov. 25.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Canadians down in Fiji and we’re looking forward to welcoming you,” James Pridgeon, head of tourism development and partnerships for Fiji Airways, told a Thursday (Aug. 11) Toronto gathering.

Stroebel Bekker, Fiji Airways regional general manager for the Americas, in turn told those on hand that the “initial response” in this country to the upcoming route has been “overwhelming … Now we look forward to really growing Canadian arrivals into Fiji.”

Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, said his tropical destinations sees air and water temperatures hover around 28 degrees year-round.

Visitors will find a welcoming population who embrace their culture, a contrast to some other parts of the world where locals simply get “dolled up” for tourists.

He said Fiji can accommodate adventurous sorts who enjoy the likes of whitewater rafting, and diving and those who are seeking spa stays and snorkeling as well. “Whatever your bag is we’ve got it for you,” he continued.

“We’re really excited about the nonstop flights out of Vancouver,” Hill said.

Hill also said upon arriving in Nadi visitors won’t “find a huge airport where you’re waiting 3 hours for your bags” and those passengers won’t have to deal with any “crazy ETAs or ArriveCANs.”

Fiji is a “very easy and simple place” to navigate, he added.

Oneworld carrier Fiji Airways — which works with Air Canada and WestJet — also serves San Francisco and Los Angeles on this continent and numerous points in Asia and the South Pacific.

For more on Fiji Airways, go to www.fijiairways.com .

Information about Fiji can be found at www.Fiji.travel.

Fiji Airways is using Anjuna — which counts airline industry veteran Jon Murray among its staff — as its Canadian GSA.

In the photos

Top Photo

Earlier in the day (Aug. 11), officials from Fiji Airways, Tourism Fiji, hotel representatives from Fiji as well as officials from Goway and Baxter Media got together for an intimate lunch at Toronto’s Sassafraz – the tony restaurant in Yorkville … Seen here from l to r, are Goway’s Bruce Hodge; Fiji Airways Akuila Batiweti; and Baxter Media’s David McClung.

Middle Photo

In the evening (Aug. 11), the industry gathered to learn more about Fiji Airways new flights from Canada as well as to hear about the destination from Tourism Fiji and some top hoteliers from the destination. Seen here, from l to r, are Krish Goundar of Fiji Airways; Pridgeon; Hill; Bekker; and Murray. 

Third Photo

On hand for the afternoon lunch, from l to r, were Tourism Fiji’s Robert Thompson; The Pearl Resort, Spa & Golf Course’s Natalie Marletta; Barel Wachtel of Cloud9.com.fs; and Michael Bell of the Fiji Resort & Spa.

Bottom Photo 

The group enjoys a wonderful lunch at Sassafraz.