Tonga becoming a new destination for Chinese tourists [1]
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 17:47. Updated on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 17:58.
Tonga's Minister for Tourism, Hon. Cecil Cocker, and the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr Gao Shanhai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding this morning, April 13, allowing Chinese Tour Operators to bring Chinese tourists to Tonga.
The Minister said that the signing of the MOU was the first step for Tonga to be given an Approved Destination Status, by the Chinese.
Tourists leave China in groups and there are about 50 countries in the world with ADS where they may travel.
Sione Moala from the Tonga Visitors Bureau said that only Fiji and the Cook Islands have ADS. He said that there were further negotiations to be carried out between TVB and their Chinese counterparts before the first group of Chinese tourists arrive in Tonga.
Hon. Cecil Cocker and Mr Gao Shanhai.