Results for Ministry of Tourism

Twelve contestants vying for the Miss Heilala 2023 crown, made their first public appearance on 28 June, at Tanoa International Dateline Hotel, Nuku’alofa.

A flotilla of yachts docked at the Fāua Wharf, Tongatapu today, 19 May 2023, the first to return for the Cruise Rally after a four year break due to the COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic.

With 2023 the year of revival, the local tourism industry that was hit hard with the closure of Tonga's international borders in 2020 has 18 cruise ships listed to visit.

A float parade and fun fair events were held on Monday, July 5 a public holiday in Tonga. People flocked to the Nuku'alofa waterfront to enjoy the events, after more than a year since mass gatherings, including the annual Heilala Festival were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 'Beautiful Tonga Clean Up' campaign held earlier this year, has today presented new lawnmowers to eight villages who did the best clean up work in Tongatapu.

Humpback Whales have been coming to Tonga since the distant past, they were almost wiped out during the hunting years. Numbers are climbing back. But for how long can we maintain the fragile balance of tourist and whale? Vava’u cannot sustain more boats out on the water. In these times with CoVid-19 and an unsure future for the tourism industry, it is very hard to have any hope or faith in commitment from government for a sustainable industry and conservation of the whales, when they are seen as an avenue for more revenue.- Kirsty Bowe

Tonga has limited whale watching and swimming licences for the 2020 whale watching season for the management, protection and conservation of whales, effective on 25 February, after record number of applications for licences was received.

Tonga’s multi-million pa'anga whale watching and swimming tourist attraction is challenged by the findings of a new study by the Auckland University of Technology.

Tonga in June starts its busy season of events, with church conferences, national shows and the annual Heilala festival leading up to the marking of King Tupou VI 60th Birthday celebrations on July 4 in Nuku’alofa.