A sigh of relief for Fiji’s tourism industry: seven foreign tourists who were hospitalized after drinking cocktails at a resort bar were not poisoned by alcohol or illicit drugs, according to toxicology reports.
The incident, which occurred at the five-star Warwick resort near Sigatoka on Saturday, left tourists from Australia, the United States, and other countries experiencing nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms. Initial reports had raised concerns about alcohol poisoning, similar to a tragic incident in Laos where six tourists, including two Australian teenagers, died after consuming methanol-tainted drinks.
“I can confirm that no illicit substances or methanol were found in the ingredients or liquor samples,” Fiji’s Tourism Minister, Viliame R. Gavoka, announced. “This is great news for Fiji, especially for our vital tourism industry.”
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile the initial scare of alcohol poisoning has been ruled out, the cause of the tourists’ illnesses remains under investigation. Authorities are exploring possibilities like a chemical reaction or an infection.
The incident had a significant impact on Fiji’s tourism reputation, with some countries even issuing travel advisories warning of potential drink spiking. Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, emphasized that the incident was isolated to a single resort and urged the removal of these travel advisories.
“We’d like to tell everybody that it’s safe to come to Fiji,” Rabuka stated. “We need to find out who is spreading these negative stories about Fiji as a destination.”
While the mystery surrounding the tourists’ illness continues, this news provides a much-needed boost to Fiji’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on international visitors.
Featured Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography : https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-wine-bottle-on-top-of-wooden-table-3475616/
