Fiji has been called many things: idyllic, heaven on Earth, a tranquil, tropical paradise. And recently, it’s been found to be the happiest place in the whole wide world.
This is according to a recent Gallop International survey that found that Fijians are the happiest people on Earth.
Infected with that Bula spirit from birth (in Fiji, Bula is a popular greeting wishing great health, happiness and energy of life), Fijians recognise that true happiness is borne out of connection and contribution, of sharing and caring about each other.
It’s prompted some of us, quite cheekily, to call Fijians “Bulanaires” in recognition of this wealth of happiness. But the best thing is that you don’t have to be Fijian to be a Bulanaire…
All it takes is a visit to this paradisiacal archipelago in the South Pacific and it won’t be long before you discover what true happiness is all about.
And thanks to the Tourism Fiji’s Matai Megafamil running late November-early December this year, 50 agents around the country will get the chance to discover this for themselves.
READ: AGENT BULANAIRES: Win A Fiji Famil Spot & Feel True Happiness
Lorie Raymundo is one of those proud Matai Agents who had the chance to discover true happiness in Fiji, and we sat down with her to discover what she thinks about one of her favourite destinations, Fiji…
How long have you been in the travel industry?
I have been in travel for just over 10 years and I love this industry.
When did you start selling Fiji?
Malolo Island. Credit: Holger Leue
As soon as I started as a travel agent – my first ever booking was actually to Fiji and it was a holiday to Malolo Island. Because it was my first trip I have a fondness for Fiji – the booking came from an email enquiry when I was working at Student Flights! I still remember that client and their trip very well
Why did you sign up to the Matai programme and what benefits have you experienced?
I think it is important to be up to date with product knowledge, so on top of attending roadshows, the Matai programme is a great way to keep myself abreast of the destination product updates. It’s beneficial for me selling if I know more! On top of that I always like the chance to be on a Fiji famil, that’s a great perk of the programme as well as getting invited to Tourism Fiji’s amazing events and roadshows. I find that the program is really useful for keeping informed and understanding Fiji more, especially because the country is so big – there’s over 300 islands!
With ten years in the industry, you travel a lot, so what do you never leave home without?
My can do attitude and smile. When I travel, I like to embrace the cultures and try everything, even foods I’d never normally eat.
Have you been on any Tourism Fiji Matai famils and what do you enjoy about them?
Yes, I’ve been on one and I really enjoyed visiting the country, the people are so warm and there’s so much more to Fiji than you think. It teaches us to relax and slow our pace, enjoy our surroundings and be thankful for life. Fiji gives you lots of little happy moments every day. It is definitely a country you’ll leave feeling happier.
And what is there about Fiji that many people won’t know?
A lot of people think that Fiji is just about the islands and beach resorts but there’s a lot of beautiful landscapes and incredible adventure activities, world-class surfing, and some amazing trekking trails inland. Also, English is widely spoken across the country, so it makes it easy for Australians to get around.