The Indian Weekender, Friday 6 November 2020

18 FIJI
Friday, November 6, 2020 The Indian Weekender
Fiji resort offers the
ultimate in social distancing
Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,
celebrities and members of the royal family
house-bound travelers are trying to find
ahead of their own LAX departures.
ways to go on vacation without risking
 On the other side of the itinerary, guests
exposure to the virus.
The Pacific island nation of Fiji has
announced that its borders will be closed to
commercial aircraft until at least March 2021.
But travelers with deep pockets may be able to
circumvent the rules by signing up for a special,
personal "travel bubble" at a luxury resort.
The Laucala Private Island Resort has
partnered with Fiji Airways, the country's
national airline, on a special itinerary.
Up to 20 guests can fly on a private chartered
Fiji Airways jet from Los Angeles to Nadi,
Fiji's primary airport and main transit hub.
From there, they will be transferred to Laucala,
where they will have the private island resort
all to themselves. The few travellers allowed
into Fiji at present are subject to a mandatory
14-day quarantine, but because of Laucala's
remoteness the Department of Health has
permitted the program to go forward without
guests having to isolate for two weeks.
They will need three negative Covid-19 tests,
though -- one two weeks before travelling, one
72 hours before boarding (which will be sent to
the tourism authority in order to confirm travel
permits) and one upon arrival in Fiji.
Beyond the transportation and hotel, travellers
will get to avail themselves of the Private Suite
at Los Angeles International Airport – a posh,
personal airport lounge that has been used by
will be able to use the private Fiji Airways
lounge in Nadi.
The cost? A cool $490,000 covers the jet, a
minimum seven-night stay, on-island activities,
food and drink and airport transfers for up to 20
people. If you don't live in L.A., though, you're
on your own for getting there.
Laucala's pricey proposition may not work
for most tourists. But this isn't the only way
that Fiji, whose tourism industry generally
comprises 40% of its gross national product
(GNP), has tried to make up for lost revenue
during the pandemic.
Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia "Frank" Voreqe
Bainimarama has made no secret of his desire
to appeal to ultra-wealthy travelers. A "blue
lane" was created to permit travelers to come to
the country via private yacht, with visitors able
to serve out their quarantine on board before
coming ashore.
A potential travel bubble dubbed the "bula
bubble," which would open up quarantine-free
travel between Fiji, New Zealand and Australia,
has not yet come to fruition.
Daylight in Fiji saving to commence next month
Members of the public are being reminded that daylight
saving will commence from Sunday, December
20, 2020. Minister for Employment, Productivity
and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar is
urging all Fijians to wind their clock one hour in advance of the
standard time commencing at 2am on December 20.
He said daylight saving will end on Sunday, January 17,
2021 at 3am and members of the public are required to wind
their clocks back by an hour.
wishes everyone
Happy Diwali
Under Covered
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and On Road Cost on us
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till 31st Dec 2020
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M: 021 0298 3339
4B Freeman Way, Off Cavendish Drive, Manukau City. P: 09 263 9255 E:info@jsrlife.co.nz