Fiji Travel Guide - Introduction

Despite the odd military coup over the past two decades, this idyllic image mostly fits the bill. The beaches that fringe many of the islands here are among the best in the South Pacific, many of which are dotted with offshore coral reefs ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling.

In spite of sudden changes of government, the most recent in 2006 when the army again took control, Fijji has remained popular with overseas visitors given that most of the tourist action is away from the political upheavals that have periodically infected the capital Suva.

Indeed, Fijji has maintained its tourist industry at an ideal level. Around half a million visitors come to the islands every year, making tourism the number one foreign exchange earner. However, with 322 main islands to choose from covering a large area of the south-eastern Pacific, things never get very crowded. In fact, Fijji is one of the least densely populated nations on the planet.

The local population is made up of mostly Polynesian and Melanesian peoples. There is also a considerable ethnic Indian population, almost 40 per cent, which first came in the 19th century as labourers under the British. The islands therefore practice a mix of Christianity and Hinduism, a point of considerable tension that has remained until this day but which rarely boils over.