Reviving South Pacific Cruising, as first yachts due back in Tonga soon [1]
Monday, May 1, 2023 - 20:52
The South Pacific Sailing Network Conference, “Reviving South Pacific Cruising” was held from 26-27 April 2023 at Orams Marine Boat Park in Auckland, New Zealand. The conference targeted marine authorities, individuals, organizations, and businesses involved with yachting around the South Pacific.
They looked at how to build a resilient sailing industry while navigating through the reopening of borders across the South Pacific.
Viliami Takau, the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism and Acting General Manager of Tonga Tourism Authority (TTAB), was joined by Joe Caesar from Vava'u Boat Yard, presenting on Tonga Yachting.
Around 40 participants at the conference included the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Vanuatu Tourism, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga Tourism, Market Development Facility (MDF), and representatives from Customs.
Viliami Takau also visited Marinas in Whangarei and Bay of Islands to better understand the nature of the yachting sector in the Pacific and its potential to contributing to Tonga’s recovery and economic development.
“The yachting sector includes super yachts and has the potential to be one of the top tourism earners for Tonga through boating provisions, boat maintenance and boat storage to name a few. It is estimated that yachting arrivals for the coming year will be far greater than that of pre-covid numbers.”
Tonga’s participation was made possible with the support of the Market Development Facility who will be supporting Tonga’s tourism with funding its first Yachting Strategy. TTAB are also finalizing discussions with MDF on Tonga’s market branding, and with the potential for further technical assistance and support towards other tourism initiatives.
Tonga is gearing up to welcome the first yacht rally since the reopening of the borders. The first wave of yachts will start arriving on the 18 May 2023 with approximately 30 yachts confirmed. An estimated one hundred yacht visitors at least who will visit Tonga. The rally will travel to Nuku’alofa first before cruising north to Ha’apai and on to Vava’u. A majority of the yachts will spend almost two months in Tonga before they set sail to Fiji.
Meanwhile, Tonga Tourism will be hosting a welcome to mark the first yacht rally since international closure of borders.