How to Respect Fijian Culture as a Tourist

Fiji is a beautiful tropical nation in the South Pacific made up of over three hundred islands! Tourism is a huge industry for Fiji and preparing for the culture can easily be overlooked as a result. However, I think just a little preparation can go a long way! In this post, I will discuss how to respect Fijian culture as a tourist.

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Fijian Culture and Women

I remember reading years and years ago that women were not advised to travel solo to Fiji. As I considered Fiji last year for a solo trip, I wondered if that advice was unfair or if times have changed. After visiting, I’m more inclined to think the advice was unfair, but perhaps it’s both?

Fijians were joyful and gentle. In the village I visited, they seemed relaxed and happy! Curious and kind! And overall, basic common courtesy will get you by! However, there are few things to consider or prepare for to show the locals you care.

Learn Basic Fijians Words

One easy method on how to respect Fijian culture as a tourist, is to simply learn a couple of local greetings. When visiting other countries I try to learn a couple words in the native language and it’s usually “hello” and “thank you.”

In Fiji, there are hundreds of villages and many or even most have their own dialect. However, the official main languages of Fiji are Fijian, Hindi (spoken by Indo Fijian) and English. Yes, all Fijians speak English and speak it perfectly! However, there are two phrases I used often that I think you should know!

Hello is Bula!

Bula! This is “hello/welcome” and a very common greeting! You will hear this greeting regularly and it’s very polite to say it back. It’s a general welcome phrase but they seem to utilize it when they are happy or excited as well! When arriving to any resorts you will be greeted with a song and that song will end with an excited “bula!” And yes, you are always expected to give a hearty “bula!”

To keep it simple, I basically replaced any time I’d naturally use the word “hello” with “bula” (pronounced boo-lah). It’s very easy and definitely the Fijian word you will say and hear the most!

Thank you is Vinaka!

The other word to learn is “Vinaka” pronounced vin-ah-ka. Again, it’s pretty easy to use throughout your time in Fiji. Anytime someone did something for me, a server brought me a meal, an office worker checked me in, returning from a tour, or just any time it would seem appropriate to say “thank you” I said “vinaka.”

I’m not great with languages, though I am currently on a duolingo streak for Spanish. However, the Fijians are relaxed and kind, so don’t be afraid to utilize at minimum these two phrases while in Fiji!

Consider Your Attire

In resorts, you don’t have to worry too much, but it’s worth noting Fijians are modest. You don’t have to be super strict walking around major towns, but don’t walk around in your swimsuit or in skimpy attire. However, at the resorts you can wear what you want!

I consider this to be one of the most important parts on how to respect Fijian culture as a tourist! Mainly because you will need to consider this before leaving for Fiji so you pack appropriately.

I was born in Barbados and you can wear that skimpy bikini. Other than ensuring you have nice evening attire for fancy dinners, you don’t need to overthink your vacation attire. On top of that, Crop Over is a popular Summer festival and very little is worn during this historical street party. However, in Fiji the locals are modest!

Fijians are Modest

Seeing the local kids in their uniforms and workers in their attire all point to Fijians being modest. No one was in skimpy shorts or skirts. The school uniforms of the teenage girls I saw were sulus and button down shirts. They looked very nice! Even if the weather is hot! I also can’t recall seeing a single Fijian woman’s shoulders or knees.

Now that is not to say you can’t walk around in shorts or a tank top. When walking around Sigatoka’s town, I wore an oversized shirt and shorts. So my shoulders were covered but not my knees. It was also what I wore to walk the sand dunes and I passed several men working in the field and had no issues. Overall, just consider where you plan to visit and what you plan to do when packing.

Village Visits Dress Code

If you plan to do a village visit and I recommend you do, then you will need to ensure you pack some appropriate attire. Fijians are modest and it will be expected that you dress modestly for a village visit.

As a general rule, cover your shoulders and knees whether male or female. I wore a sulu (Fijian sarong) to cover my knees and a t-shirt so my shoulders were also covered. This doesn’t require much effort, but you will want to be considerate.

I bought a sulu in Nadi when I arrived and I packed a few options that would cover my shoulders. In the end, I was in a hurry to get ready so I went with a t-shirt. Because I was in such a hurry to make the tour, I didn’t match or look cute, but my shoulders and knees were covered. So you don’t need to overthink it, but do come prepared!

Resorts Provide Cultural Experiences

Fiji does a great job of offering various cultural experiences at the resorts. Every resort I stayed at sings a welcome and goodbye song! Well at least every resort in the Yasawa Islands. Each resort in the Yasawa Islands offered a Village Visit tour and the option of attending church on Sunday.

Additionally, at Blue Lagoon there was a Kava ceremony offered and at Mantaray Island Resort they did a cultural dance show after dinner. At Barefoot Kuata, I went on a walk to a historical cave and got a history lesson of the people in that village. Overall, they do a great job of weaving in the culture of Fiji even at resorts, which I loved!

So if you are armed with some basic Fijian words and pack appropriate attire for Village Visits, you should be good! However, if you plan to do a homestay, you may want to consider additional Fijian etiquette.

Village Homestays

I never did a Fiji homestay while in Fiji, but there are plenty of opportunities to do this and it’s SUPER budget friendly! As stated above, Fijians are modest so it’s important to pack appropriate attire for the length of your stay!

I’d also consider bringing a gift for your hosts. This is a common courtesy in many cultures, so consider bringing a gift of some kind. I’m sure there are suggestions online for this one.

It’s customary to bring a gift for the chief. When I did a village visit, the tour guide from the resort took care of all cultural courtesies for us including the gift and guided us as needed. The picture below shows our guide carrying Kava and it was to give to the chief. So for a homestay, I’d suggest doing some extra research about this or reach out to your homestay hosts for guidance.

Etiquette for Homestays

Fijians are beautiful and kind, so I don’t think you need to stress about the local etiquette. They are understanding and will teach you, so just be humble and teachable and practice basic good manners. The hosts will be able to teach you any additional behavioral norms.

However, this post on Fijian etiquette is a good overview and provides some additional details for basic manners when visiting with locals. Between reviewing that post, packing appropriate clothing and listening to your hosts, you should be good!

Fijian Social Norms

I read Fijians consider it a sign of anger or disrespect if you are too loud or raise your voice. This fits as I found the Fijians to be very gentle! I also read they rarely curse. Generally when traveling in groups, tourists can be loud, but it’s worth noting your volume when not at a resort.

Respect of personal space is another consideration I read, and overall I would say this tracks with Western culture in general. I even read to not touch Fijian’s heads, as this is a sign of disrespect in many villages to touch someone’s head and that includes children. It’s certainly not common in our culture to pat an adult’s head, but just remember this includes children.

As with any place you visit, be sure to treat the land with care! While in Fiji sitting on the beach, I heard a local yell, “hey, don’t stand on our reef!” I looked and saw a tourist standing on the reef! While I don’t think that tourist was malicious, he or she was ignorant. So be sure to pick up after yourself, respect the wildlife and care for the land.

How to Respect Fijian Culture as a Tourist

Fijians are gentle, laid back and kind people! Basic courtesy will get you far in how to respect Fijian culture as a tourist. However, adding a couple Fijian words to your vocabulary and coming prepared with modest attire for a village visit can speak volumes!

The Islands of Fiji are beautiful and so are the people! Don’t stress and enjoy your time in this tropical destination. When I booked my flight to Fiji, I wondered if it was going to be worth the long flight! Well, within a few days of being of my island hopping the Yasawa Islands of Fiji, I was so happy I made the journey!

So have the best time in Fiji! Bula!