Fiji General Information

Fijians are a very welcoming people and visitors should not be afraid to accept hospitality. Informal casual wear is generally acceptable.

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz. plugs used is Australian-style with two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade.

Telephones

International calls can only really be made from Viti Levu. Calls from hotels via an operator are very expensive. It is cheaper to get a public phonecard, available from post offices and newsagents or from the Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office.

Mobile Telephones

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. There is no coverage on outlying islands, only on Viti Levu.

Internet

Internet cafes are available in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka and most resorts, although can be relatively expensive.

Banking Hours

Generally Mon-Fri 08:00am-5:00pm. Restricted Foreign Exchange Dealers (authorized to issue foreign currency and traveller’s cheques for travel-related purposes only): Mon-Fri 08:30am-5:00pm, Sat 08:30am-12:00pm.

Currency

Fijian Dollar (FJD; symbol F$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of F$50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of F$1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Exchange facilities are available at the airport, at trading banks and at most hotels.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at a number of establishments. Major international cards are accepted at ATMs.

Traveller’s Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Australian Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Post office Hours

Mon-Fri 08:00am-4:00pm; Sat 09:00am-12:00pm.

Geographical Information

• Location: South Pacific, Melanesia.
• Area: 18,376 sq km (7,056 sq miles).
• Population: 905,949 (2008).
• Time: GMT + 12.

Holidays

Sport

The national sport on Fiji is considered to be rugby union; however rugby league is also very popular. The national rugby team has been very successful given the size and population of the country, and has competed at four rugby world cups, the first being in 1987. Fiji also competes in the pacific tri nations and the pacific nation’s cup.

Commerce and Culture

• Government: Republic since 1987.
• Head of Government: Frank Bainimarama since 2007 (temporary leader).
• Head of State: President Ratu Josefa Iloilo since 2000.
• Language: the principal languages are Fijian and Hindustani; English is widely spoken and is also taught in schools.
• Religion: Methodist and Hindu with Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities. A strictly fundamentalist Methodist version of Christianity is enshrined in, and informs, the Fijian Constitution.

Media

Fiji’s private press includes English-language dailies and Fijian- and Hindi-language weeklies. It has received criticism from politicians for its heavy-handed reporting. The government has a stake in several publications. Radio is a prime source of information, particularly for the outer islands.

Press

• The main English-language dailies are the Fiji Times and the Daily Post.
• The Fiji Sun is privately owned.
• Fiji Calling is the biannual tourist newspaper.