Fiji’s visa-free policy and the increase in direct flights from China have significantly boosted its appeal, leading to a surge in Chinese visitors and a vibrant tourism boom.
According to data from the Fiji Tourism Bureau, as of the first quarter of 2024, the number of visitors to Fiji has increased eleven percent compared to the same period in 2023 – of which 77 percent are tourists. Australia, New Zealand and China remain its main tourist source countries.
"Fiji has good air quality, mesmerizing coral reefs and activities like sea fishing and underwater diving. These are what attract me the most," said Xu Yuhan, a Chinese tourist.
Currently, the island nation is experiencing an increase in visitors due to favorable policies that have attracted the attention of Chinese travelers.
"Fiji was among the first destinations when China resumed outbound group tours in 2023. With the increase in direct flights between China and Fiji, the number of Chinese tourists in Fiji and other Pacific Island nations has doubled in 2024, so far," said Liu Jie, assistant to the president of tour company CYTS Aoyou Technology Development.
Liu said the relaxation of visa policies has also unleashed the potential of Chinese tourism.
"Fiji’s visa-free policy allows Chinese visitors to start a trip at any time. With its unique culture and well-equipped hotels, Fiji is a destination for high-end tourism," she added.
Fiji’s visa-free policy attracts Chinese tourists, sparking to tourism boom
Smoke from wildfires shrouding over many parts of Mato Grosso, the most severely impacted state by wildfires in Brazil, has caused discomfort among local residents as it persists due to prolonged heatwave.
According to statistics from the National Institute for Space Research, as of Friday, Brazil had recorded over 180,000 wildfires in 2024, with nearly 40,000 of them occurring in Mato Grosso state, ranking it first among all the states in Brazil.
Residents of Cuiaba, the capital of Mato Grosso, said while high temperatures and dry weather were typical in the city in previous years, the prolonged heatwave coupled with smoke this year is highly unusual.
"The smoke is worsening. The situation has been very dire over the past two months. We have not had rain for over 100 days. Low humidity, below 10 percent, is a huge problem, necessitating extensive use of humidifiers for us," said Guilherme Rodrigues Mendes, a resident.
"The weather is quite bad. I feel terrible. I have been sick at least three times. My throat is extremely dry, leading to coughing and feeling nauseous," said Navai, another resident.
According to the local fire department, 1,000 firefighters are battling fires across multiple locations in Mato Grosso. The state encompasses three vital biomes -- the Amazon rainforest, the Cerrado savannah, and the Pantanal wetlands. Currently, the fires in the Pantanal wetlands are largely contained, yet numerous active fire points persist in the Amazon rainforest and Cerrado savannah.
Wildfire smoke in Brazil's Mato Grosso state causes discomfort among locals
