Tourists furious over Fiji travel warning

[Mal]

Queenslanders who have been forced to cancel holidays to Fiji are furious Australian Government travel advisory websites did not make clear the severity of widespread flooding on the island nation.

The South Pacific island destination has continued to struggle with widespread flooding caused by category three cyclone Gene, which has claimed the lives of eight people including a 13-year-old boy.

Tourists furious over Fiji travel warning - Travel - BrisbaneTimes

 

[NYCguy]

It was on the news in the USA and Japan, on more than one occasion, so I find it difficult to believe it didn't make a mention in Australia...

 

[serfty]

very Brief mentions; In Oz the media seems currently more interested in the Cricket, Cricketers and ex-Cricketers ...

 

[simongr]

I didnt see any news last night but did watch the news on Sun/Mon and do not recall seeing any mention...

 

[trooper]

<Cynic mode On>

And had the Government given out warnings that turned out to be a bit over the top... the same people would complain...

..and when they are overseas and some big incident takes place, their families expect "The Gubmint" to not only know exactly where they are* (even though the family doesn't) BUT they also expect those aircraft that the Government apparently has standing by at all times to immediately fly over and evacuate said loved ones...

* ...said knowledge at any OTHER time would of course be seen as an intrusion on their privacy...

<Cynic mode Off> :mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

There's an interesting post on FlyerTalk:

Hi All,

I dont know if any of you have been keeping up with the current situation in Fiji, but we have just returned home and can assure you the Australian press coverage does not even go close to painting a picture of the situation.

For the villagers, the devestation is everywhere and the rebuilding will no doubt be a long effort, with another depression hitting now.

From a tourist perspective, the only word to describe it is Mayhem. We needed a military escort to get accross flood waters, the terminal in Nadi is at boiling point, with people bribing check in staff for spots on stand by lists (I saw a couple rebuy their seats, another pay $500 and a family of 5 who missed check in charged F$2500 to get the seats they had already paid for, only in cash, not credit). There was only 4 flights to Australia on the Monday we escaped, FJ911 to Sydney, one FJ flight to OOL and 2 Pacific Blue flights to Brisvegas. On our flight (911) there were 173 passengers on standby, 68 seats allocated.

While my wife and I are very happy to be home, my thoughts are certainly with those trapped behind.

 

[Mal]

Don't forget that people these days think that the Govt should rescue you...

Brisbane woman stranded in Fiji - World - BrisbaneTimes - brisbanetimes.com.au

NADI - Australians stranded at luxury resorts in storm-ravaged Fiji say they are angry their government has not done more to rescue them from the flooded country.

Hundreds of tourists sheltering in hotels on popular Denarau Island, off the coast from Nadi, are calling for more emergency flights from the swamped tourist town back to Australia.

"We just want to get out of here but, from what we can see, absolutely nothing is being done from back home to help us," said Brisbane woman Jane Bullock, who was holidaying at the Sheraton Fiji when the storm struck five nights ago.

"We are stranded here. Families are running out of money. We're extremely frustrated and want the Australian government to be taking this whole situation far more seriously."

 

[NYCguy]

Don't forget that people these days think that the Govt should rescue you...

Brisbane woman stranded in Fiji - World - BrisbaneTimes - brisbanetimes.com.au

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

 

[Hvr]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Totally agree and very eloquently stated.

She said she bought the holiday in full knowledge it was the rainy season but that authorities had let them down allowing them to fly into it.

Remember these are the stupid people who sit next to us on the plane. Hopefully they will continue to occupy the middle seats so as not to impede us when an emergency occurs.

 

[Mal]

Yikes, the comments get worse by the day:
Aussie tourists flee Fiji ordeal | The Courier-Mail

Lynette Butler, from Forest Lake, said the Australian Government needed to follow New Zealand's lead and stop sending people to Fiji while flood conditions prevailed.

Move over Bali - you have competition!

 

[Alanslegal]

Remember these are the stupid people who sit next to us on the plane. Hopefully they will continue to occupy the middle seats so as not to impede us when an emergency occurs.

Doesn't help when some flyers like window seats, its better they not fly at all

Also who's that whinger that said her kids are going "stir crazy" because they're stuck in the hotel room with nothing to do - and its all because its Kevin07's fault