A meeting was held in Nuku'alofa last week to discuss ways in which the Tongan tourism industry can benefit from the recently signed Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM).

The Road Map, initiated by the Tongan Government and led by Tonga's Renewable Energy Advisor, 'Akau'ola, sets in place the mechanisms for Tonga's shift to a low-carbon economy, and includes the ambitious and Pacific-leading target of 50% of Tonga's energy to come from renewable sources by 2012.

Last week's meeting, organised by Tourism Tonga, featured a presentation by Chris Andrew, CEO of Greenlight Technology Group and consultant for the Vienna-based Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Mr Andrew worked with REEEP to design Fiji's low-carbon tourism initiative “Clean Me, Green Me, Fiji Me”.

Participants at the meeting included stakeholders from across Tonga's private and public sectors, including Director of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, 'Asipeli Palaki and Kepreen Ve'etutu from the Ministry of Tourism. Tonga Power, Tourism Tonga, Tonga Tourist Association, Fiji Gas, the World Bank and NZAID were also represented at the meeting.

Chris suggested Tonga could use its status as the only country in the Pacific with an Energy Road Map to rebrand as a carbon neutral destination therefore taking full advantage of an upward trend in tourists seeking carbon neutral, nature based holidays. Reece Proudfoot, Tourism Tonga's Media and Marketing officer spoke of the meeting being “an important first step in initiating dialogue on how the tourism industry can capitalize on this enormous opportunity being presented to us”. “Our tourism industry can be instrumental in Tonga's transition to a Pacific-leading low carbon economy, and as a result benefit from significant marketing and funding opportunities it brings with it”.

Phase 0 and Phase 1 of the Road Map will be rolled out together. According the TERM final draft, benefits to operators from Phase 0 and 1 could include: An energy audit programme to “Identify cost effective energy efficiency investments, for example, in the hotel sector”, fiscal incentives to drive efficiency, for example “exempting high efficiency appliances from taxes and duties”, and a Tonga Green Incentives Fund which could provide “low interest or interest free loans of up to 5 years to finance the purchase of energy efficient appliances”. There will also be improvements to infrastructure as part of Phases 0 and 1 including a street light upgrade programme and replacement village distribution networks and metering. “Proof-of-Concept” initiatives will also be developed to test the effectiveness of Solar PV panels, Wind farms, Coconut Oil and Landfill Gas as large scale, renewable energy sources for Tonga. - Tourism Tonga, 18/05/10.