Fiji Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Pacific, Melanesia.

Area
18,376 sq km (7,056 sq miles).

Population
905,949 (CIA estimate 2006).

Population Density
49 per sq km.

Capital
Suva.
Population: 210,000 (metropolitan, 2004).

Government
Republic since 1987.
Head of State:
Head of Government: Recent history:

Language
The principal languages are Fijian and Hindustani; English is widely spoken and is also taught in schools.

Religion
Methodist and Hindu with Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities. A strictly fundamentalist Methodist version of Christianity is enshrined in, and informs, the Fijian Constitution.

Time
GMT + 12.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs used are Australian-style with two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade.

Head of Government
Frank Bainimarama since 2007 (temporary leader). 

Head of State
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo since 2000.

Telephone
Country code: 679. International calls can only really be made from Viti Levu. Calls from hotels via an operator are very expensive. It is cheaper to get a public phonecard, available from post offices and newsagents or from the Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. There is no coverage on outlying islands, only on Viti Levu.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka and most resorts, although can be relatively expensive.

Media
Fiji’s private press includes English-language dailies and Fijian- and Hindi-language weeklies. It has received critiscism from politicians for its heavy-handed reporting. The government has a stake in several publications. Radio is a prime source of information, particularly for the outer islands.

Post
Airmail to Europe and North America takes up to 10 days. The main post office is on Victoria Parade, Suva.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600; Sat 0900-1200.

Press
• The main English-language dailies are the Fiji Times and the Daily Post.
• The Fiji Sun is privately owned.
• Sartaj and Shanti Dut are weekly publications in Hindi.
• Fiji Calling is the biannual tourist newspaper.

Radio
• The state-owned commercial Fiji Broadcasting Corporation operates Fijian-language Radio Fiji One, Hindi-language Radio Fiji Two, music-based Bula 100 FM, Hindi entertainment station Bula 98 FM and music-based Bula 102 FM.
• The BBC World Service and Radio Australia are available on FM relays.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

1 Jan 2007 New Year’s Day.
31 Mar Birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
6 Apr Good Friday.
7 Apr Easter Saturday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
4 May National Youth Day.
28 May Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day.
11 Jun Queen’s Birthday. 
10 Oct Fiji Day.
9 Oct Diwali.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

1 Jan 2008 New Year’s Day.
20 Mar Birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
21 Mar Good Friday.
22 Mar Easter Saturday.
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
4 May National Youth Day.
26 May Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day.
9 Jun Queen’s Birthday. 
10 Oct Fiji Day.
28 Oct Diwali.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Note
(a) Muslim and Hindu festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and therefore dates can only be approximations. (b) Some holidays are annually set by the government, or moved to either Friday or Monday, if the normal day of observance falls on a weekend.

Contact Information:

South Pacific Tourism Organization
PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: 330 4177.
Website: www.spto.org

Fiji High Commission in the UK
34 Hyde Park Gate, London SW7 5DN, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 3661.
Website: www.fijihighcommission.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1300, 1400-1700, Fri 0900-1630; Mon-Fri 0900-1200 (consular section).

Embassy of the Republic of Fiji in the USA
Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 337 8320.
Website: www.fijiembassydc.com

Fiji Visitors Bureau in the UK
Nottcut House, 36 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9EU, UK
Tel: (020) 7202 6369.
Website: www.bulafiji.com


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