Just as Vanuatu launched its new and positive campaign – We’ll Keep It Beautiful For You – the island paradise has been hit by Cyclone Harold, with reports that the islands have suffered damage to the extent that recovery may take up to 12 months.
Telecommunications have been impacted, so the full extent of the impact of Harold is yet to be confirmed.
Harold has been downgraded to a Category 4 storm and is heading toward Fiji. The Fijian Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has ordered people to shelter in evacuation centres and said special COVID-19 measures were in place for evacuees.
“We have contingency plans in place to prevent any mixing between evacuees and Fijians who are close contacts of existing COVID-positive patients,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“All evacuation centres will also be sanitised, and regularly monitored to ensure that they are not filled beyond capacity.”
Cyclone Harold threatens Fiji just as Tourism Fiji launches its own social media campaign – “Sota tale. Stay safe and we will see you soon.”
“‘Sota tale’ is a common Fijian phrase that guests hear upon their departure from Fiji, in anticipation that they will be welcomed back to Fiji again soon,” said Tourism Fiji’s CEO Matthew Stoeckel.
“It is part of Tourism Fiji’s four stages to market re-entry that the organisation is implementing to return the destination to the Australian market. Stage one is all about inspiring Aussie’s to dream about a trip to Fiji and Tourism Fiji has several exciting initiatives planned to bring this to life.
“While we are in unprecedented times, we wanted to share this optimistic message to let everyone know that we are still thinking of them during this period and that we remain hopeful of their return to Fiji again soon,” said Robert Thompson, Tourism Fiji Regional Manager Australia.
