Bloody politics!  Put aside, if you will, coups and counter-coups; a military-led government; more than a little racism even - and consider what you can do to help our near-neighbours over problems which are driving them to the economic wall.

Fiji's leaders, incumbent and pretenders, cannot duck behind the global financial crisis for their nation's continuing woes. It's all of their own making.

To be fair, none of it has impacted on foreign visitors, and their home was, not so many years ago, Australians' favourite holiday destination.

All the elements which made this so, are still there; not least of all being the Islander people with their disarming smiles and nothing-is-too-much-trouble attitude.

Add to that Fiji's great asset of being children-friendly - a place where mums and dads could have a real holiday secure in the knowledge the “child minders”, assigned or voluntary, would look after the kids. How many times did we hear returning mums and dads recounting how hard it had been just to convince their offspring it was time to go home.

All that said, apart from all the political to-ing and fro-ing behind the scenes, tourism, the lifeblood of Fiji and Fijians, must be revived - given the kiss of life.

For their part, Fiji tourism operators and their official Tourism Fiji bureau have tried just about everything. Prices were slashed, value-added packages introduced, bonus meals, bonus nights accommodation, bonus cruises … you name it.

The latest tack is an aptly named StimulateMe campaign through which Tourism Fiji is offering tourists a chance to win $1000 cash vouchers.

To qualify for a chance to win one of the prizes you have to book and pay in full any one of the dozens of top value fully-inclusive Fiji holiday packages between now and March 21.
That, of course, is the booking deadline; the deals are valid for travel until this September 30.

The packages can be easily booked at any licensed travel agency.
The special offers include return air fares with the excellent Fijian flag carrier Air Pacific, accommodation, airport-hotel transfers and all meals.

Once you have booked and paid for the holiday, you enter your details in a dedicated web link to be in the draw for one of the five cash vouchers. The draw will be in April.

Tourism Fiji Regional Director Australia, Paresh Pant, said the StimulateMe strategy was designed both to motivate Australians into choosing Fiji as their next holiday destination while drawing attention to its value.

Helping the recovery  

Blue Lagoon is bigger than the movie

Aiding the tourism recovery effort, Fiji's acclaimed Blue Lagoon Cruises is offering a 15 per cent discount plus a free cabin upgrade on all Club and Gold Club Yasawa Island cruises booked between now and June 30, with travel available until the end of January NEXT year.

The discount applies to all three- and four-day Club Cruises and all four- and seven-day Gold Club cruises.

In dollar-terms, the discount prices a three-day/two-night Club cruise now from $567 pp twin share.

All Club and Gold Club cruises include meals and cruise activities ranging from shore excursions and snorkelling safaris to fish feeding, fishing and glass bottom boating.

Cultural activities include a traditional lovo feast, visits to remote villages, kava ceremonies and a day spent at Blue Lagoon's private island, Nanuya Lailai. 

International airfares are extra and guests are also up for a F$25 pp fuel charge.

Visit www.bluelagooncruises.com for full itineraries or email reservations@blc.com.fj