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AAP
AAP
National
Jack Gramenz and Neve Brissenden

Fiji quells cocktail fears as Aussie recovers in ICU

Two Australian women caught up in a suspected mass alcohol poisoning in Fiji have arrived home. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Fijian officials are reassuring tourists the destination is safe for travel as one Australian remains in intensive care after suspected alcohol poisoning.

An Australian mother and daughter landed back in Sydney on Monday evening after they were among seven people believed to have been poisoned by drinks served at a five-star Fijian resort.

Tanya and Georgia Sandoe were released from hospital over the weekend and returned home to recover.

Two people, including one Australian, remain in intensive care in hospital in Fiji, although both are in stable conditions.

The tourists became ill after drinking cocktails at the Warwick Fiji resort on the south coast of Viti Levu island.

Fiji's Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka
Fiji's Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said an investigation was being conduced into the incident. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Fiji Tourism chief executive Brent Hill said the island remained a safe travel destination despite the suspected poisoning case.

"This was a very isolated incident, even in the hotel itself there were only these seven that were affected, which is quite mystifying," he told Seven's Sunrise program on Tuesday.

"We certainly want to reassure people that are planning to come over for Christmas, Fiji prides itself on safety and service ... we feel it's still a very safe place to come."

Mr Hill said about one million Australians visited the Pacific nation per year and tourism contributed significantly to the Fijian economy.

He urged tourists to take usual precautions around drinks in foreign countries, but said investigations were still under way into the weekend incident.

Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka also sought to reassure tourists.

"Fiji is and will remain typically very safe for our tourists and the recent incident at a prominent resort at the Coral Coast is an extremely isolated one," he posted on X.

The incident has renewed official calls for travellers to be wary of drink spiking or other additives when travelling overseas.

It follows the death of two Australians in Laos, where they were among several victims of a suspected mass ethanol poisoning.

Authorities do not know what led to the Fijian poisoning cases, however samples have been sent for testing.

Mr Gavoka told ABC TV on Monday that one of the two people still in Lautoka Hospital in a stable condition was a girl from Fiji.

The hospital is managed by a Canberra-based company, which Mr Gavoka said provides an Australian standard of care.

Mr Gavoka said it was the first time such a thing had happened in Fiji, adding that the victims had been drinking pina colada cocktails made with local rum and the bar server had more than 15 years' experience.

"We are really determined to find out what (happened) ... because tourism is our number one in this country and we are approaching Christmas and New Year," he said.

The Warwick Fiji resort, where the suspected poisoning occurred, said it was committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of guests.

"Please rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation," it told AAP in a statement.

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