Vava'u tourism operators embroiled in bitter lawsuit [1]
Friday, April 27, 2018 - 18:25
Two tourism operators in Vava'u, who are embroiled in a bitter lawsuit ,had their civil cases adjourned to May 9, at the Magistrate’s Court in Neiafu.
The lower court said the case was called in Chambers before Magistrate Mana Kaufusi on April 26, before being adjourned to May 9 to be heard before Magistrate Paula Tatafu.
Ian Jones of Vava’u Villa and Nesha Rosic of Mala Island have filed actions against each other, related to an ongoing dispute over the settlement of bills incurred by a whale watching tour group to Mala Island.
The matter was first reported in October last year, when Tonga Police warned tourists to be wary of false pretences online.
The dispute arose after a 37-year-old woman from New Zealand, residing in Neiafu, was alleged to to have obtained $9,720 from nine tourists as payment for whale watching activity, which was not booked when they arrived in September.
It was alleged that the woman had since paid back the money back to the tourists and avoided being charged.
Police said a 65-year-old man from the United States residing on Mala Island filed his complaint with them, saying that he and eight others gave this woman the money in New Zealand before coming to visit Vava'u. The money was for their accommodation, meals, transportation and a whale-watching fee.
However, on arrival in Neiafu, the woman had only organized and paid for their accommodation without meals, transportation or the whale-watching fee.