Departure Tax
Visitors to Fiji are required to pay $20.00 departure tax in Fijian currency following check-in. Children under 12 are exempt.

Airports in Fiji
Fiji has two international airports - Nadi, the principal gateway and Nausori, near Suva.

Agriculture Quarantine
Fiji is a country which carefully guards itself against human, animal and vegetable pests and diseases. It is free of all the serious plant and animal pests and diseases and it wants to maintain this privileged state. The importation of vegetable matter, seeds, or any animal product is prohibited without the relevant import permits from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests.

A permit is required also for the importation of cats, dogs and other live animals. Such animals will require to be kept in quarantine isolation on arrival. The length of such isolation periods will depend on the country of origin of these animals. Quarantine officers are stationed at the international airports at Nadi and Nausori and the ports of entry for vessels.

Fiji is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Tourists are required to obtain an export permit and CITES certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests to enable them to take the following aquatic products out of the country: coral of any species, turtle shells of any species, shell of any species of giant clams, whales tooth.

Further enquiries regarding the importation of animals or animal products can be made at the office of the Director of Animal Health and Production, GPO Box 15829, Suva. Telephone +679 3315322, Fax +679 3301368. Enquiries related to the imports of vegetable and plant matter are to be directed to the Principal Quarantine Officer, Private Mail Bag, Raiwaqa, Suva. Telephone +679 3312512 Fax +679 3305043.

Health Quarantine
Fiji is free from malaria, yellow fever and major tropical diseases that are endemic to most tropical countries. It has an effective medical system in place although local people still believe in the efficacy of age-old herbal remedies. Fresh water reticulated in Suva, Lautoka and the other major towns has been treated and is safe to drink from the tap. This also applies to hotels and resorts. Some resorts use artesian water for bathing, but provide drinking water separately. If this is the case, visitors will be advised.

Vaccinations
Yellow Fever and Cholera vaccinations are only required if coming from an infected area as designated by the World Health Organization. Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over I year of age coming from an infected area.

Time Zone
When it is 9am in Fiji, it is:
9pm in London previous day, 10pm Frankfurt previous day, 4pm New York previous day, 1pm Los Angles previous day, 6am Tokyo same day, 9am Auckland same day, 7am Sydney same day.

When the United States is on daylight saving add one hour to the above time. Between November and February, Fiji time moves forward one hour with daylight saving

Attire
Visitors to Fiji should bring a light tropical wardrobe. Bathing suits, shorts, T-shirts and as they will soon discover "sulus" are a must for both men and women. The wrap-around "sulu" is Fiji’s most distinctive and versatile form of dress. It is women who obtain the most benefit from the "sulu". There are at least ten different ways in which it can be used, even for evening wear. Ask your resort staff for hints on tying and wearing your "sulu".

Visitors are asked to be careful not to offend local sensibilities. Wearing bikinis and ultra-brief, swimming costumes is fine at the resort but not when visiting villages or shopping in town. At such times it is easy to take a sulu to use as a wrap-around so no offence is caused. Both men and women should be careful to respect local feelings.

Weather
Fiji enjoys an ideal South Sea tropical climate. It is thus a perfect holiday destination, especially for those trying to escape the severe Northern Hemisphere winters. Maximum summer temperatures average 31 Degrees Celsius (88 Degrees F) and the mean minimum is 22 Degrees Celsius (72 Degrees F) The winter average maximum is 29 Degrees Celsius (84 Degrees Celsius F) and the mean minimum is 19 Degrees Celsius (66 Degrees Celsius F). These are much cooler in the uplands of the interior of the large islands.

A cooling trade wind blows from the east southeast of most of the year. It usually drops to a whisper in the evening and picks up again by midmorning. Fiji has a climate ideally suited for the outdoors, the beach and surf, for light cotton dresses, barbecues and water sports.

Summer
Average Air Temperatures:	23 - 30°C	73 - 86°F
Average Water Temperatures:	27 - 29°C	80 - 84°F
Winter
Average Air Temperature:	20 - 26°C	68 - 79°F
Average Water Temperatures:	25 - 27°C	77 - 80°F

Village Etiquette
When visiting a village it is customary to present a gift of yaqona, which is also known as kava. The gift, called a sevusevu, is not expensive-half-a-kilo (which is appropriate) costs approximately $10.

It is presented to the Turaga ni Koro, the executive head of the village. The presentation is usually in his house and will generally be attended by some of the older men who happen to be in the vicinity at the time and can quickly turn into a social occasion. Pounded into powder, the yaqona will be mixed with water and served. Be prepared to shake hands and to answer many personal questions such as where you are from, are you married, how many children do you have, how much money you earn etc.

It is important to dress modestly when away from the immediate vicinity of your resort or hotel. Always carry a sulu to cover bathing togs or shorts and halter tops.

Do not wear a hat in a village as it is considered an insult to a chief. Do not wear shoes into people's houses. It is considered an insult to touch someone's head.

Fijians are known as the friendliest people in the world. Your respect for their customs and traditions will not only make you a welcome guest in their villages and homes, but add another dimension to your Fijian holiday.

Important Tips About Visiting Villages:

•	Dress modestly. Don't wear shorts, and women must not wear halter tops and shoulders bare.
•	Do not wear hats. They are interpreted as a sign of disrespect.
•	Always remove your shoes before entering any house or other building.
•	Stay with your assigned host. If other villagers ask you to eat or accompany them, politely note that you are with your host and would be honored to visit with them at some other time. Remember, Fijians will, out of customs, always ask you to eat with them or share whatever they have.
•	Speak softly. Raised voices are interpreted as expressing anger.
•	Show respect, but be cautious with praise. If you show too much liking for an object, then the Fijians will feel obliged to give it to you as a gift, whether they can afford to or not.
•	If you spend a night in the village, reward your host with a useful gift of similar value for each member of your party. It is not recommended that you stay in a village which is in the habit of accommodating paying visitors. If you feel obliged to pay more, then ask your host what he or she might like and purchase it for them. A bundle of groceries is graciously appreciated by large Fijian families.

You will find some villages more traditional than others, especially those distant from towns and urban centers. Remember, Fijians are not judgmental of other people and will rarely express a negative opinion. However, you will find that the more you respect their customs, the warmer your village welcome will be.

Say It In Fijian
Almost everyone in Fiji speaks English - as it is the official language, but the Fijian language is preserved and widely spoken in many different dialects. Almost everyone is bilingual and many Fijian terms are included in everyday English usage. It is handy to know some of the more common words and phrases, and the Fijians will be delighted to know you picked up some of their language.

Fijian pronunciation is similar to English, but with a few changes to the phonetic alphabet. Below is a brief guide which will bring you close to the correct pronunciations. The best way to learn, since there are many subtleties, is to have a Fijian instruct you and then listen closely.

Pronunciation
"a" is "ah" as in father, but shorter. The correct pronunciation of Nadi, is closer to "Nahn-di" than "Nan-di".

"b" is "mb" as in bamboo. you'll hear "bula" or "hello" many times. You may notice the slight humming "m", almost silent at the beginning. When something precedes the "b", then the "m" sound becomes more pronounced. The formal "hello", Ni Sa Bula, is pronounced "ni sahm" boola".

"c" is "th" as in "this". So "moce" meaning goodbye is pronounced "moe-they".
"d" is "nd" as in candy.
"g" is "ng" as in singer.
"i" is"i" as in sit or "ee" as in routine.
"o" is "ngg" as in finger.
The island of Beqa is pronounced "Mbeng-gah".
"u" is"oo" as in bamboo or "u" as in put.

English	Fijian
good morning	ni sa yadra (ni sah yan dra)
hello!	bula(mbula)
goodbye	ni sa moce (ni sa mothey)
please	yalo vinaka (yalo vee naka)
excuse me	tulou (too low)
yes	io(ee-o)
thank you	vinaka (vee naka)
no	seqa (senga)
eat	kana (kana)
village	koro
lady	marama
mister	turaga (tu rang ah)
little	vaka lailai (vaka lie lie)
plenty	vaka levu (vaka ley vu)
quickly	vaka totolo (vaka toe toe lo)
house	vale/bure (valey/mburey)
toilet	vale lailai (vale lie lie)
come	lako mai (la ko my)
go	lako tani (la ko tanee)
bring	kauta mai (ka ou tah my)
one more	dua tale (ndua ta lay)
one	dua (ndua)
two	rua
what is this	na cava oqo (na thava on go)
drink	gunu (goo noo)
coconut	niu (new)
I want	au vinakata (aoo vina kahta)
church	vale ni lotu (vahle nee lohtoo)
shop	sitoa (seetoah)