Editor,

I write this letter with humble and sincere concern for the future and the development of Tourism in our Kingdom.

Like many who were blessed and fortunate to grow up 'back home', what I vividly remember the robust Tourism days that brought the best out of us as people and as a culture. Remember those days when A3Z would call on the airwaves for vehicles to be needed to service arriving passengers at Queen Salote Wharf. Buses, taxis, mini-mokes, 3 Wheelers (ve'e tolu), lined along the waterfront with the best capable English speaking high school students dressed in their freshly ironed uniforms ready to display the best our 'home' of Tonga had to offer. Remember Fa'onelua Park's welcoming lush floral landscape that invited pedestrians to gaze through the many local handicrafts and newly smoothed carvings and our 'black coral' exclusives? Nuku'alofa was indeed alive and we, as a people did our best to showcase our Kingdom and our Culture.

Like many families who left Tonga to pursue further education, work and the opportunity to build a dream overseas, I have been proud to wear the badge of being Tongan.

Through the grapevine, I was excited to learn that the next installment of the hit TV Show "Survivor" was scouting in Tonga. My excitement and curiosity got the best of me wanting to do all that I can to help make this a reality. I was even more thrilled to learn that Vava'u was going to be the location for the upcoming season. Finally, Tonga would be given a chance on the Global Televised stage to showcase our Kingdom. We could show the world what we all know is a hidden treasure that is our home.

It is a known fact that tourism and a financial injection into the local economy follows each season of Survivor everywhere they film. What an opportunity for us as a people! Weekly prime time exposure on television across the United States (not to mention the syndication across the planet) for one hour. Sure, our culture is not full, front and centre but the fact remains, the show will be known as Survivor: Tonga, not Survivor: any other country. It's Survivor: Tonga. Millions of people will be exposed across the world with the brand of Survivor: Tonga. That alone in combination with the beautiful backdrop of Vava'u is a compelling visual for people to inquire about our homeland. What did we as a people pay for this opportunity? I would surmise, very little compared to the massive advertising exposure we get for free.

What other show or marketing exercise can bring multi-millions of dollars in global exposure for Tonga and positively affect so many aspects of our homeland economically, socially and spiritually?

The probable positive flow-on effects would be enormous from increased tourism, increased tourism spending in Tonga, boost in job numbers, boost in farming output (because tourists and people with incomes need to eat) which will build towards a robust economy that is will be self-sufficient and less-reliant on foreign Govt's aide and remittances to Tonga from overseas Tongans. From a Govt perspective, they'll receive an increase in taxes (income and sales tax) which can be used to reinvest to improve healthcare, education and other important social initiatives to improve the welfare and future of our people. With strong leadership and a sustainable plan for future economic and social growth, a successful production of 'Survivor: Tonga' would give the much needed injection into the economy.

The recent press release from the Ministry of Tourism dated 1 March, 2011 was not what I thought would be the result of what I considered a "life changing" opportunity for our Kingdom and our Tourism. It does appear that the Government and other relevant stakeholders went the extra mile to ensure the TV production of Survivor selected Tonga as the location for 2011. However, after examining the details of the press release, it seems that one of the key stakeholders in the puzzle didn't come to the table ~ “the makers had difficulty getting cooperation from local operators when it came to booking the 25,000 room nights needed”.

Really? Hoteliers? Two Hotel venues that probably could have benefited immensely in the next couple of years from people visiting the Survivor location. Granted that the Paradise is only a skeleton operation due to the fire this business suffered. This leaves only one major hotel that could realistically host the production crew of Survivor - Puatakanave.

I am truly disheartened that this small (yet obviously important) faction could single handedly turn away one of the greatest opportunities to be presented to the Kingdom in decades in regards to Tourism. I am not sure what the details are with why they couldn't come to an agreement with the producers of the show so I will not project to know the details. I have been replaying the different scenarios in my mind and have the following questions to the Hotelier(s) in Vava'u that had this opportunity:

Was it a financial decision? Did Survivor not offer a fair price for buying out your hotel during the time of production and taping? Were you not prepared to handle 100% booking for a large portion of the 25,000 room nights needed. Did you not have the staff to facilitate this accommodation logistic? If your hotel was lacking in any materials, could you not have asked for Survivor to bring what they needed then make the adjustments in remuneration and compensation?

I am just floored that "private" business owner(s) have held the Kingdom hostage by allowing whatever "reason" they saw the need to stand their ground leading to the loss of this opportunity. Business owner(s) who despite the Kingdom's desperate need for jobs, economy, and exposure, failed to see the bigger picture. I know that in the Press Release it states that Survivor hasn't totally ruled out coming to Tonga, but I believe this is a nice way of saying "you had your chance".

I do hope that the Producers of Survivor will see that their decision to pull the show from Tonga was based on the myopic view of a few and not the majority of our people.

Sincerely

Paul M. Tu'ivai

pmtuivai [at] gmail [dot] com