A five member group of North American travel agents arrived on May 7 in Tonga on an Air New Zealand's Gateway to Paradise six-days familiarization and educational tour of the Kingdom.

The group, which included travel agents from Ontario in Canada, Texas, Colorado and Atlanta, visited various island resorts, tourist attractions, activities and main accommodation in Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai.

In Tongatapu they visited the Fafa Island Resort, the blow holes, flying foxes, the Liku'alofa Beach Resort, and Vakaloa Beach Resort. They also visited hotels like the Black Pearl Suites, Little Italy Hotel and the International Dateline Hotel.

In Vava'u they toured Neiafu and visited Harbour View Resort, Beluga Diving, Dive Vava'u, Reef Resort in 'Otea and Mounu island.

In Ha'apai they visited Oceanblue Adventures and did some sightseeing.

The group led by Terri Miller from the Air New Zealand's Los Angeles office said on April 11, this was the second trip of its kind to Tonga, the first was in March last year.

She said the aim is basically to familiarize US travel agents with what Tonga has got to offer as a tourist destination thus enable agents to gain first hand knowledge on tourism activities; destinations and accommodations so they go back and sell it to travelers.

While In Nuku'alofa they were welcomed with a reception hosted by the Tonga Tourist Association on the evening of Monday, May 11 at the Loumaile Lodge.

The group departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 12. Their six days visit was jointly hosted by Air New Zealand's LA office, Tonga's Ministry of Tourism, and the Tonga Tourist Association.