Aussie actress and comedian Rebel Wilson fronts a new campaign for Tourism Fiji as the country opened for quarantine-free travel for fully-vaccinated Australians, New Zealanders, Brits and Americans earlier this week – effective 1 December 2021.
Fiji is fully geared up to welcome back double-vaxxed visitors with open arms to its 333 islands, white sand beaches and year-round tropical warmth. The island nation’s Care Fiji Commitment has proven to offer the travel wary a seamless solution to holidaying safely in paradise.
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Bringing the concept of ‘Open for Happiness’ to life, Rebel Wilson features in Tourism Fiji’s campaign that sees the starlet escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood life to glamorously wash up on Fiji’s pristine shores – namely that of VOMO Fiji. Welcomed with a friendly Bula, she then embarks on an adventure to experience all that the islands have to offer.
Growing up in Australia, Wilson says she has very fond memories of visiting Fiji as a child, and jumped at the chance to return as an adult to shoot the ‘Open for Happiness’ campaign recently.
“When someone asks you whether you want to visit Fiji – there is really only one answer isn’t there? It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world,” Wilson remarked.
“I had the best time filming this campaign, there really is nothing like the white sand and clear waters of Fiji. It is truly breathtaking. But even more than the landscape, I love Fiji the most for its people. Everyone greets you with a smile and a ‘bula’, the warmth and hospitality of everyone I met is something I will always remember.
“Fiji truly is open for happiness,” Wilson said.
Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji said the tourism bureau was “so proud” to officially launch the 90-second video, which had been teased earlier in the week with a 15-second sneak-peek.
“What a pleasure it was working with someone so talented, and who truly embraced everything Fiji is about – from our natural beauty, to our people and our local musicians, producers and talent.”
“Fiji is truly Open for Happiness, and this was such a special campaign for us to make, in Fiji. We are thrilled to once again finally be able to welcome our visitors back from around the globe to the shores of Fiji – it has been a long time coming,” Hill said.
“Safety has of course been paramount as we have been planning Fiji’s re-opening, so we have a number of systems in place that aim to protect both visitors and our community. Welcome home to Fiji!”
Speaking exclusively with LATTE this week about the campaign, Hill said that Wilson was the perfect fit for the audience, saying she “connects with Australians and New Zealanders”.
“Rebel was amazing. She was so generous with her time and she’s perfect tourist, which is exactly what we wanted,” the tourism chief said.
“Essentially she is a representative of a tourist searching for happiness, comes to Fiji, meets all the beautiful Fijian people and keeps hearing people saying ‘Bula’ and then by the end of the clip she’s right into it. And culminates with Rebel realising that maybe happiness is a destination, and you can find. It’s a message that is very true to what Fiji is all about.”
“Rebel fit the bill really, really well,” noting that she was one of 10 potenial shortlisted Ambassadors for the tourism campaign, wih “Rebel super keen from the get go, and for the right reasons.”
Hill said that the campaign would run through to mid-2022, and suggested Wilson could likely star in additional messaging for Tourism Fiji.