Tourism Fiji causes offence with embarrassing video gaffe

AUTHORITIES have apologised over a very unfortunate translation error in a video to tourists that’s caused deep offence to Fijian people.

A STORM of controversy has erupted over a promotional video by Fiji’s tourism authorities that mistook a church for a toilet.

The embarrassing faux pas appeared in a video that attempted to showcase everyday words in the local itaukei language to foreign visitors.

The words “Vale ni Lotu” were translated as “toilet” — but they actually mean church or place of worship.

READ MORE: The most ridiculous tourism campaigns of all time

Once the error was realised, Tourism Fiji quickly pulled the offending video from its Facebook and Instagram accounts and issued an apology, blaming the gaffe on a graphic design error.

The offending ad.

“Tourism Fiji takes full responsibility for the error and sincerely regrets any offence this post may have caused our fellow Fijians,” the department said.

“We take this situation very seriously and are reviewing our internal processes to ensure this does not happen again.”

But it wasn’t enough time for the mistranslation to cause offence and anger in Fiji.

The country’s opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said she was outraged at the tourism authority’s carelessness.

“Obviously no proper vetting or proof reading was done before its release,” she said in a statement, according to the Fiji Times.

“Is this is a deliberate mistake by Tourism Fiji? How can someone translate ‘toilet’ to ‘Vale ni Lotu’?

Outraged & disgusted that an organization like Tourism Fiji would allow the release of a promotional video on their social media platforms without proper vetting or proof reading. A gross insult and humiliation to the first settlers of this country & the people of Fiji.

— Ro Teimumu Kepa (@RoTeimumuMP) April 25, 2018

“‘The Vale ni Lotu’ is a sacred location of belief and worship for indigenous Fijians, however, this incident undermines and ridicules its sanctity.

“The taxpayers of Fiji give Tourism Fiji $43.5 million [A$28 million] a year in grants for marketing and operating expenses and if this is a sample of what we can expect them to produce using our taxpayer dollars then perhaps we should review their allocation in this year’s budget.”

On social media, reactions ranged from fury to mockery.

“It’s an insult to Christianity. This is a tactic used deliberately to desensitise the sanctity of religion,” one person tweeted.

“One job @TourismFiji One job!” said another.

English: Toilet
iTaukei translation: Church
It's a hilarious mistake, but of course strongly religious folk in Fiji find it offensive, and offending people is a mortal sin these days. Poor work by @TourismFiji given that this basically their one job (and backed by $30M/yr budget)

— Mark Simpson (@mark_up) April 25, 2018

This is ridiculous @TourismFiji !!! Who the hell is translating Fijian for you guys?! This is & you're in Fiji & can't get the translation right! I demand a public apology! A Toilet is translated as a place to go worship or Vale ni Lotu? Shame! Shame! Shame! https://t.co/XQ8kaYUuY8

— Ben Daveta (@bendaveta) April 24, 2018

Fiji - where 'toilet' happiness finds you and get lost in translation (literally) @TourismFiji #TeamFiji #NewMarketingCampaign #shame

— ravenfiji (@ravenfiji) April 24, 2018

How in any way is toilet synonymous with Fiji? It's an insult to Christianity. This is a tactic used deliberately to desensitize the sanctity of religion. Thank you for addressing this.

— Apenisa (@Apenisa4) April 25, 2018

That dude on the Tourism Fiji toilet valenilotu ad is quickly hitting Next Top Model status. I mean...amount of chat forums and discussion boards he has been on. Get it my brotha. #TheNextJuiceBoy

— PaperKicker (@CaqePepa_Inc) April 25, 2018

It’s not the first time Fiji’s tourism strategies have made headlines for the wrong reasons this week.

Earlier this week news.com.au reported authorities in the island nation were downplaying the need to warn Australian visitors about a dangerous outbreak of meningococcal, saying we’ve vaccinated against the deadly disease anyway.

“In 2003 Australia had a [meningococcal C] vaccine on its national immunisation schedule for all children from the age of one,” Fiji’s acting prime minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told parliament.

“From 2003 to 2006 they had a vaccination program for everyone from the ages of one and nine.

“Therefore ... Australian visitors who have had the vaccine obviously would have low risk of actually catching meningococcal when they visit Fiji.”