The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) has advised members to reactivate their wellness ambassadors amid concerns about the emergence in Australia of a new coronavirus variant.

In her weekly column in The Fiji Times today, FHTA chief executive officer Fantasha Lockington said while COVID-19 was no longer a public emergency, the possibility of new sub-variants emerging meant that Fiji should remain vigilant.

“And now, it appears we might be seeing the effects of an Omicron variant that is currently unsettling residents in Victoria, Australia due to its spread and lethality amongst older residents,” Ms Lockington wrote.

“In what appears for all intents and purposes to be the beginnings of the cusp of an eighth COVID-19 wave, Victoria has noted there has been a 23.6 percent spike in cases across the country.”

Given Australia’s importance as Fiji’s primary source market for tourism, the FHTA is urging the public, tourism partners, and stakeholders to prepare for any potential disruptions.