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"Its just not accurate to advise tourists and businesspeople not to visit Fiji."
"Two members of the Council’s Executive Committee visited Fiji last week,
and individually travelled safely and without incident between Suva and Ba – they saw
no sign of any trouble or hostility towards them as foreigners."
Mr Porter said that while Council members abhorred the removal by force of the elected
government of Fiji and the abrogation of the constitution, there was no longer a sound
reason discourage Australians from visiting Fiji for holidays or to do business there.
"More than 7000 innocent Fijians of all races have lost their jobs in Fiji since
19 May, and such people have no social security safety net to support them and their
families."
"Australians can play a vital part in helping the Fiji economy recover from the
trauma of the last three months, and help reduce the damage done to the lives of innocent
people there. Many hundreds of thousands of Australians have enjoyed holidays in Fiji, and
there is no reason why they should not do so again now."
"The Australian Government should immediately lift its travel advice on Fiji
except in relation to the very limited areas where there might be real danger, and this
certainly does not apply to the main tourist and business areas."
Mr Porter said that as a sign of the Council’s confidence in the improving
situation in Fiji, he would later this month be leading a business mission to Fiji.
8 August 2000
NOTE FOR EDITORS: Further enquiries to Frank Yourn, Executive Director,
Australia Fiji Business Council Tel 0412 608 195 Fax 02 6242 4357 E-mail yourn@dynamite.com.au
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