Originally a British Colony, when King Cakobau ceded Fiji to Great Britain in 1874, the country gained its independence in 1970 and then became a republic after the events of 1987. Sugar and tourism dominate the economy. You'll see vibrant green canefields all over the country but most are concentrated in the West of Viti Levu and on Vanua Levu. The manufacturing sector, agriculture, fishing, timber and gold mining are all expanding. English is the spoken language in Fiji but both Fijian and Hindustani are also widely used.
Most local people are multi-lingual.