The Royal Sunset Island Resort has new owners, after a group of Italian investors purchased the 19 year old icon of the Tonga tourism industry recently.

David Hunt and his wife Terry who built the resort sold the property to the Italians, Giecomo Migaini, Michele Migaini, Micheli Omar and Grieco Domenico at the end of July this year.

The sale included the 30-year lease of the 100 acres property on 'Atata Island, 26 accommodation fales, the main fale which houses a restaurant and a bar, and the resort ferry boat.

The Royal Sunset Island Resort was constructed in 1985 by the Pacific Island Resort Company, whose shareholders were David and Terry Hunt, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata and Papiloa Foliaki. In 1991 David and Terry became the sole owners of the Royal Sunset Island Resort.

David said that he sold the property because he thought had done his time on the island, " it was time for someone else to come in and improve it."

Micheli Omar, one of the new owners said they were currently renovating the resort and had set up a surfing school with the intention of holding a surfing competition next year as well as developing more water sports.

The Italians are marketing their product in New Zealand and Europe where they have connections with travel agents.