Fiji Facts and Culture

What is Fiji famous for?

• Family: The father acts as head of the family. Large families are not uncommon. The elderly are often cared for by... More
• Fashion: Western style clothing is becoming more widespread throughout Fiji. Casual clothing is usually worn. Native women wear a... More
• Visiting: Refreshments are usually given, comprising of juice or tea. It is impolite to refuse them. Visiting is often done... More
• Recreation: Rugby is the most popular sport with soccer a close second. Other sports included volleyball and swimming. Among the men... More
• Cultural Attributes: Fijians are generally relaxed and courteous. They are proud of their traditions and culture. More
• Diet: There are many tropical fruits to choose from, bananas, mangoes and papayas are popular choices. Fijian diet frequently consists... More

What is the capital of Fiji?

Capital	Suva (on Viti Levu)
Government Type	parliamentary republic
Currency	Fijian dollars (FJD)
Total Area	7,056 Square Miles 18,274 Square Kilometers
Location	Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Language	English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
GDP - real growth rate	3%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$9,800.00 (USD)

What is the population of Fiji?

Ethnic Groups	Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
Nationality Adjective	Fijian
Nationality Noun	Fijian(s)
Population	935,974
Population Growth Rate	0.73%
Population in Major Urban Areas	SUVA (capital) 177,000
Predominant Language	English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Urban Population	52.2%

What type of government does Fiji have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Jioji Konousi KONROTE (since 12 November 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22... More
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji dual citizenship recognized: yes residency... More
• National Holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970) More
• Constitution: several previous; latest signed into law September 2013 More
• Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK) More

What environmental issues does Fiji have?

• Overview: Fiji is referred to as "300 islands in the sun." Of the 320 islands and islets that make up the... More
• Climate: The wet summer season lasts from December through March. The cooler, drier winter season falls between May and October. Although... More
• Environment - Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer... More
• Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin More

How big is the Fiji economy?

• Economic Overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed and connected of the Pacific island... More
• Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber More
• Currency Name and Code: Fijian dollars (FJD) More
• Export Partners: US 20.8%, Australia 14.9%, NZ 7.7%, Tonga 5%, Vanuatu 4.6%, China 4.5%, Spain 4.3%, UK 4.3%, Kiribati 4.1% More
• Import Partners: Australia 19.2%, NZ 17.2%, Singapore 17%, China 13.8% More

What current events are happening in Fiji?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Fiji?

• Although golf is mainly a tourist sport in Fiji, one of the nation's best-known athletes is a golf star. Vijay Singh won the 2000 Masters Tournament.
• Cakobau's finest war club, called “Blood-Bather,” is used as the ceremonial mace in the Fijian Parliament. It has been embossed with silver.
• During hurricane season (November to April), people prepare for violent storms when they see birds flying inland. In 1985, four cyclones hit Fiji, causing severe damage. Cyclone Kina in 1993 and Hurricane Gavin in 1997 also devastated parts of the country.
• Ecowoman is a conservation project that brings indigenous Fijian women together with professional women in the fields of science and technology to share knowledge and discuss ways to improve the economy without damaging the environment.
• Every May, the people of Fiji honor Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, one of Fiji's most eminent statesmen. During the First World War, Britain did not allow indigenous Fijians to fight. Sukuna joined the French Foreign Legion and won France's highest military honour.
• For business, many indigenous Fijian men combine traditional and Western-style clothing. They wear a jacket, shirt, and tie over a dark grey sulu (a wraparound skirt worn by both men and women).
• For centuries, chants and songs have taught children about their history and mythology. Today, primary school children sometimes chant their English lessons in chorus.
• Hairdressing was once a traditional Fijian art form. Fijian men dyed their hair various colors and styled it into fantastic shapes. A man's hair expressed his power and social status. Chiefs' hairdressers would spend days creating special effects. The circumference of the final arrangement could reach two meters.
• In indigenous Fijian villages, the families of a bride and groom bring food such as taro or yams, and goods such as bolts of cloth or drums of kerosene. At a Hindu wedding, guests present the couple with clothes, dishes, household linens and money.
• Kava, Fiji's most popular drink, has medicinal properties and is often prescribed as a diuretic. Too much kava-drinking, however, can lead to health problems such as kanikani, in which the skin becomes scaly and rough.
• Some Fijian words were originally English. The Bauan word for cow is bulumakau (“a bull and a cow”). Beer is bia, company is kabani, cockroach is kokoroti and jail is lokamu (“lock 'em up”).
• The Fijian people once believed that certain hilltops and boulders, called yavutu, represented the dwelling places of the vu.To discourage ancestor worship, the Methodist missionaries destroyed many of these yavutu.
• The International Date Line crosses the Fiji islands. This imaginary line marks the change from one day to the next. The Date Line swings around to the east of the islands, so that the whole country can be in the same time zone.
• Two nights a year, in October and November, the balolo (a small marine worm) rises to the ocean's surface to mate. Villagers go out at sunrise to scoop them up. They soak the worms in fresh water, then cook them overnight in a lovo.

What can you learn about Fiji in this video?

Fiji Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia Expedia- YouTube

What makes Fiji a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Fiji is a South Pacific island nation with 333 islands and islets, 106 of which are inhabited. The capital of Fiji is Suva. Once a leader of Pacific democracies, Fiji has been under military rule since 2006. Since the government's abrogation of Fiji's Constitution in April 2009, the government has ruled by decree and limited basic freedoms. A new constitution promulgated on September 6, 2013 restores some freedoms while keeping decrees in place until the first seating of Parliament sometime after elections, which are expected in September 2014.

Tourism is a major industry in Fiji, and a full range of services are available. The Fiji Visitors Bureau has a wide range of information for travelers that can be accessed by visiting the Fiji Visitors Bureau's website.

Crime

Urban areas experience a higher incidence of crime than do rural areas. Most crime takes place in Suva and Nadi, away from resort areas. You should always protect your valuables and be aware that theft from hotel rooms, purse snatching, and pick pocketing are the most common crimes against tourists. Be attentive of your personal safety and be cautious about sharing too much personal information about where you are from and where you are staying while traveling. If you are not familiar with an area, ask hotel staff about areas to avoid. There has been an increase in incidents involving sexual assaults and harassment in Fiji. You should not walk alone after dark and always be sure to avoid isolated and deserted areas. You should lock your doors and windows when you are alone at home or in your hotel room. Since there is crime directed at taxi drivers, do not allow taxis to pick up other passengers while you are en route. Similarly, you should not enter a taxi already carrying other passengers.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Fiji, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. You should carry photo identification with you at all times. If you are suspected of being involved in criminal activities, you will be taken in for questioning and asked for identification. Respect any cultural sites with security warnings posted against photography. Fiji enforces laws against driving under the influence of alcohol, and offenders may be taken to jail. If you are stopped and found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, you will be taken to the police station for further tests. If the second test is affirmative, you will be detained in a prison cell to sober up, typically overnight, and you will be charged the following morning. If you do not have a permanent address in Fiji, the local police will keep you in custody and will arrange for a special court hearing with a Magistrate. These hearings take place during regular work days, and on the weekends and holidays. If you have a permanent residence in Fiji, you will be charged and may be released, and then you will be asked to attend court on a set date.

Criminal penalties vary from country to country. There are some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Fiji, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Health-care facilities in Fiji's urban areas are adequate for routine medical problems. In the rural areas, staff training is limited and there are often shortages of supplies and medications. Travelers should carry adequate supplies of any needed prescription medicines, along with copies of their prescriptions, the generic name of the drugs, and a supply of preferred over-the-counter medications. Emergency response is extremely limited. Ambulance availability is minimal, and ambulances are often poorly equipped and staffed. Two major hospitals, the Lautoka Hospital in the western city of Lautoka and the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, provide limited emergency and outpatient services. A recompression chamber at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva can treat decompression sickness (See also Special Circumstances, Water Sports). A private hospital in Suva provides Western-style medical care, and other hospitals and clinics provide a limited range of health services. Medical emergencies may be evacuated to Australia, New Zealand, or the United States. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States or elsewhere can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services. Medevac to Australia or NZ will only be considered if patient has adequate insurance or upfront payment which can be expected to run into tens of thousands of dollars. In some cases, medevac to Australia or NZ can require a medical visa.

Dengue fever, carried by infected mosquitoes, occurs throughout the country of Fiji, especially during the rainy season.

Safety and Security

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling to or within Fiji. Since the Fijian government's abrogation of Fiji's Constitution in April 2009, the Fijian government has ruled by decree and limited somebasic freedoms. U.S. citizens in Fiji should remain cautious and alert in public places and near military activities in the greater Suva area. Although demonstrations are not common in Fiji, you should avoid demonstrations and large crowds, remembering that even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent unexpectedly.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Fiji, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic moves on the left in Fiji. While most roads in urban areas are paved, they are poorly maintained. Roads outside the city are usually not paved. In the city, be especially attentive when driving after dark. Outside of the city, it is best to avoid driving after dark except in emergency or exceptional circumstances. Insufficient lighting, stray animals, unwary pedestrians, and potholes make driving dangerous and particularly hazardous at night.