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Concerns are growing in Fiji that tourism will suffer badly as a result of the ongoing standoff between the military and the government.

The leader of the army in Fiji has threatened to remove the prime minister over plans to pardon hundreds of prisoners taken during the coup of 2000.

Fiji's tourism minister, Tom Vuetilovoni, has warned that the country will continue to suffer as long as the standoff goes on.

Hotels and resorts have reportedly already seen bookings for next year take a dive since the tensions began, as has the country's national airline.

Mr Vuetilovoni says thousands of people risk losing their jobs if things do not improve and the country is likely to suffer as a whole.

Fiji's economy relies heavily on tourism, with 49% of its foreign exchange coming from the industry, and experts are warning of dire consequences if matters are not resolved quickly.

'Think about the economy, the living standards of the ordinary people of Fiji who are very dependent on the tourism industry, the wonderful tourist resorts that Fiji has,' foreign minister Alexander Downer told the Foreign Correspondents Association.

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