Fiji travel bookings boom as families and celebrities flock to Pacific

Australians are taking off overseas in droves, joining a stream of celebrities escaping to one particular island hideaway.

Humbled by two years of travel-busting lockdowns, Australians are darting across the Pacific to Fiji in droves, joining a stream of celebrities escaping to the archipelago and cementing its reputation as a hideaway for the stars.

The island haven is increasingly seen as a peaceful, Covid-safe and accessible alternative to popular destinations like Bali and Hawaii for families and celebs alike, with bookings to the country surging, according to travel agents.

Online booking website Skyscanner has seen an 120 per cent spike in search interest for trips to the archipelago of 300 islands with more than 75,000 bookings made in recent weeks, according to Tourism Fiji.

Bikini model Natasha Oakley was spotted enjoying the pristine waters of Kokomo Island.

Entertainment reporter Renee Bargh enjoyed a lavish tropical getaway in Fiji over the New Year.

Travel agents have been overwhelmed with inquiries since the country opened to travellers on December 1 - and are already making bookings for early 2023 as availability for this year becomes tight.

They say that Fiji has “replaced” Bali, which they believe “will take a long time to recover”, and that other island destinations like Hawaii are “too far” for travellers during a time of high anxiety and uncertainty.

“Our inquiries have been absolutely slammed for Fiji. We’re getting smashed,” a travel expert from Fiji Island Holidays said.

“Generally, peak time (for holidays in Fiji) is now, but at the moment it’s all the time, every month. It’s pretty much all booked out. It’s popular because it’s not far to fly to from major cities, there’s Care Fiji packages in the resorts and protocols in place for Covid.”

A view from the Bouma National Heritage Park and Somosomo strait on Taveuni Island. Taveuni is the third largest island in Fiji.

Other destinations experiencing a surge in interest as border restrictions eased were New York, with a 147 per cent spike in searches and Bagkok, up 145 per cent.

Fiji has a 90 per cent vaccination rate and World Health Organisation-approved Covid control plans, with Fiji Matai specialist Merilyn Porter saying many tourists see it as a safe choice in uncertain times.

“Fiji is the winner because we can get there, it’s close, and there’s been excellent experiences. They make us feel at home, but a home without any worries,” she said. “There is a genuine feeling of safety there.”

Rebecca Vallance at Kokomo Private Island in Fiji.

Natasha Oakley in waters off Kokomo Island.

The entry requirements are also straightforward, with fully vaccinated travellers spared quarantine and instead required to stay at a Care Fiji Committed (CFC) approved hotel for the first three days of their stay, where they must undertake a rapid antigen test on day two but are permitted to move around the resort or go on a CFC approved day trip.

A negative PCR test is also required two days before departure for travellers 12 and older.

This compares to Bali, where travellers must get a PCR test three days before departure, quarantine for three days upon arrival and submit to two tests.

Fiji’s appeal hasn’t been lost on the rich and famous either, with many choosing the country’s five-star resorts in favour of places like St Barts in the Caribbean, fearful of long-haul flights and multiple stopovers in a world plagued with border uncertainty.

The popular tourist hotspot, Plantation Island.

Australian high-end fashion designer Rebecca Vallance shared photos of herself sauntering around the exclusive $3,000-a night Kokomo Private Island Resort this week, where bikini model and entrepreneur Natasha Oakley was also spotted enjoying the island’s pristine waters.

Entertainment reporter Renee Bargh also enjoyed a lavish tropical getaway in Fiji over the New Year while actress Rebel Wilson gushed about her love of the island in a tourism campaign last month.

Many celebrities have been known to frequent Fiji over the years, including A-lister Mel Gibson at his very own $17 million dollar private island, Oprah, radio host Jackie O and PR maven Roxy Jacenko.

“From our perspective, we have been really conscious to put the tourist first. I did not want to have tourists spending hours in queues or half a day in a clinic lining up for a test, so we have de-coupled the swab from the diagnostic, and you get the swab taken in your hotel,” Fiji Tourism CEO Brent Hill said.

“That is a real gamechanger as it means that you arrive at your hotel quarantine-free and then go and get swabbed at 48 hours for your RAT, and then again 96 hours prior to leaving for your PCR.

“Sum total of time away from your holiday is probably 15 mins each for that swab and then back to the pool. We’ve had a lot of positive comments about how easy this is for people.”