MELBOURNE, Australia — Seven international travelers who were hospitalized in Fiji after consuming cocktails at a resort bar have been cleared of suffering from poisoning due to alcohol or illegal drugs, according to officials who released findings from a toxicology report on Wednesday.
The circumstances surrounding the tourists’ ailments, which occurred over the weekend, are still being scrutinized, noted Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame R. Gavoka.
“I can confirm that there is no evidence pointing to illicit substances or methanol being present in the samples tested,” Gavoka informed journalists in Fiji’s capital, Suva.
He emphasized that the absence of signs indicating alcohol poisoning is positive news for Fiji, particularly for its essential tourism sector. Gavoka also mentioned that all seven individuals have made a complete recovery.
The tourists fell ill while staying at the five-star Warwick Resort, located near Sigatoka, on Saturday. The group included visitors from Australia and the United States, who exhibited symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues, as reported by Fiji’s Health Ministry.
Initial media reports suggested that the cause of their condition might be alcohol poisoning, drawing a parallel to an incident in Laos the previous month, in which six tourists—two of whom were Australian teenagers—tragically lost their lives after consuming beverages contaminated with methanol.
Concerns surrounding potential methanol poisoning have posed a challenge for Fiji’s tourism sector, which is typically recognized for the safety and quality of its food and beverage offerings.
Alcohol poisoning tends to be a prevalent risk in many areas with lax regulations for tourists, where locally distilled ethanol could substitute for established spirit brands. Methanol can unintentionally result from improper distillation practices.
Jemesa Tudravu, the Permanent Secretary for Health in Fiji, indicated that the cause of the illnesses might stem from a chemical reaction or a possible infection, and assured that the investigation would continue.
Gavoka has called on foreign governments to revise their travel advisories that suggested risks of drink spiking in Fiji, following the emergence of recent media reports.
Despite the troubling reports, he confirmed that there hasn’t been a noted decrease in tourist bookings. “We have not seen any cancellations. People are expressing disbelief that issues like drink spiking or harmful additives in cocktails could occur in Fiji,” noted Gavoka.
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, reassured the public that the incidents had been limited to a particular resort.
“We want to convey the message that it is safe to visit Fiji, and we must also investigate who might be behind the negative portrayal of Fiji as a travel destination. Are they competitors vying for our tourist guests?” Rabuka remarked to reporters.