Many people in New Zealand don't know how beautiful Tonga is, say the organisers of a new tourism initiative that will showcase what Tonga has to offer tourists.

"Popular Pacific Islanders" from Auckland visited Nuku'alofa today on the Pacific Blue tourist promotion initiative.

Fa'avae Trevor Gagamoe, a sales account manager, at the Pacific Blue Auckland branch, said that the purpose of their one day visit was to bring key Pacific people from New Zealand to visit the best attractions and establishments on Tongatapu so when they return they will be able to promote Tonga in New Zealand.

Fa'avae said that many people in New Zealand don't know how beautiful Tonga is and this initiative will showcase what Tonga has to offer tourists.

The popular islanders included media personalities Sela Alo and Teeva Tagaloa of Niu Fm, Charles Riechelman a former All Black, Rachel Afeaki, the owner of a consultancy company in Auckland, and Innes Logan the Publisher and Editor of Spasifik Magazine.

The group visited the Shooters, Billfish Bar, Pangaimotu Island Resort, the Blow Holes and the Black Pearl Suites.

Fa'avae said that a part of the Pacific Blue Tourist Promotion initiative, a group of New Zealand tour operators would visit Tonga later this year. The group returned to New Zealand this evening.