Traditional dancers in grass skirts welcomed waving holidaymakers as Fiji opened its borders to international travellers today for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the globe and devastated its tourism-reliant economy.
Fiji Airways flight FJ914 arrived a Nadi airport from Sydney at 11.40am local time, ending 615 days of international isolation for the Pacific island nation.
As the plane taxied down the runway, two fire engines lined up and aimed their hoses in the air to honour it with a water salute.
Inside the terminal, face coverings obscured the beaming smiles of tourism operators but cries of "bula" (hello) and indigenous songs of celebration reverberated around the building.