Fiji Travel Guide

Fiji — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Pacific, Melanesia.
Language: The principal languages are Fijian and Hindustani. English is widely spoken and is also taught in schools.
Area: 18,376 sq km (7,056 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 12.
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs used are Australian-style with two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade.
Population: 931,741 (2008).
Population Density: 51 per sq km.
Capital City: Suva. Population: 86,702 (2007).
Government: Republic since 1987.
Head of Government: Frank Bainimarama since 2007 (interim prime minister).
Head of State: President Ratu Josefa Iloilo since 2000.
Religion: Methodist and Hindu with Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities. The 1997 Constitution of Fiji guarantees freedom of religion.

Recent History

Two coups by the Royal Fiji Military Forces in 1987, followed by a civil coup by indigenous Fijians in 2000, caused immense harm to the tourism industry and to Fiji's international reputation. Then, in December 2006, military chief Frank Bainimarama announced he had taken over the country and installed himself as interim prime minister from the start of 2007. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who Bainimarama accused of mis-managing the country's affairs, was sent back to his home island. At last report, the country was still awaiting promised fresh elections.

Communications

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 cafés are available in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka and most resorts. They are relatively inexpensive, however, Internet connectivity in Fiji isn’t the best.

Media

Fiji's private press includes English-language dailies and Fijian- and Hindi-language weeklies. It has maintained its reputation for independent reporting despite interim military rule. 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.Mon-Fri 0800-1600; Sat 0900-1200.

Press

• The main English-language dailies are the Fiji Times, the Daily Post, and the Fiji Sun.
• Sartaj and Shanti Dut are weekly publications in Hindi.
• The Review is a fortnightly news and business magazine.

Radio

• The state-owned commercial Fiji Broadcasting Corporation operates Fijian-language Radio Fiji One, Hindi-language Radio Fiji Two, music-based Radio Fiji Gold, Hindi entertainment station Radio Mirchi and music-based Bula FM.
• Privately-owned Communications Fiji Ltd operates four stations heard around the country: FM 96 and Legend in English, Viti FM in Fijian, and Radio Navtarang in Hindi.
• The BBC World Service and Radio Australia are available on FM relays.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
22 Apr Good Friday
23 Apr Easter Saturday
25 Apr Easter Monday
4 May National Youth Day
27 May Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day
13 Jun Queen’s Birthday
10 Oct Fiji Day
26 Oct Diwali
25 Dec Christmas
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
6 Apr Good Friday
7 Apr Easter Saturday
9 Apr Easter Monday
4 May National Youth Day
25 May Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day
14 Jun Queen’s Birthday
11 Oct Fiji Day
13 Nov Diwali
25 Dec Christmas
26 Dec Boxing Day
(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.travel (South Pacific Tourism Organization)

Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: 330 4177.
Website: www.south-pacific.travel

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).