Fiji History

The first inhabitants of Fiji originated from Melanesia. In the mid-17th century the European traders, missionaries and shipwrecked sailors arrived to the country. At the end of the 19th century Fiji became a British colony. In order to develop the economy of the country a large number of workers were imported from India to work on the plantations. Fiji gained its independence in 1970. The country became a member of the Commonwealth and the South Pacific Forum. Nowadays the Fijian economy is based on the producing cash crops, of which sugar is the most important. Tourism is also one of the main spheres of economy, though in the recent years it has been seriously affected by various political upheavals.