For years the whale watch industry in Vavau has fought to have better practices and less licenses due to an over-saturation of licenses, badly behaved skippers and, in recent years, clients who believe they can do whatever they want in the water with the whales. Why is there no list of operators, their boats, skippers and guides and passenger numbers? I and others in the industry ask: Why are more licenses being issued and to boats that are not suitable for the purpose of whale watching? - Kirsty Bowe.
You are here
Results for Tonga tourism
Friday 9 August 2024
Mounu Island, Vava'u
Thursday 26 October 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
P&O's Pacific Adventure cruise ship docked at Vuna Wharf, Nuku'alofa this morning, 26 October, bringing new faces into town.
Premium content
Saturday 8 July 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 12 Miss Heilala contestants shone at the Heiala Ball on 6 July at the conclusion of the contest at the Sir Sofele Hall in ‘Apifo’ou, Ma’ufanga.
Premium content
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Talent Quest, the fourth Miss Heilala judging event held on 4 July, at Sir Sofele Kakala Hall, Ma’ufanga, was received by an appreciative crowd.
Premium content
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Miss Heilala Contestants modestly displayed their natural beauty and physique during third judging event, modelling Sarong swim-wear, held on 4 July, at Sir Sofele Kakala Hall, Ma’ufanga.
Premium content
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Twelve Miss Heilala contestants made a colourful appearance for the Heilala crown, last night, 4 July, at Sir Sofele Kakala Hall at 'Apifo'ou Ma'ufanga. They started the evenings entertainment by modelling their Kiekie Creation.
Premium content
Saturday 24 June 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Miss Heilala Pageant 2023 opens on Monday 26 June, during with the Heilala Festival in Nuku’alofa Tonga. Nine contestants so far, have been introduced to the public.
Premium content
Saturday 17 June 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Miss Heilala 2019-22 Yehenara Soukop expressed her gratitude as she prepares to close her Miss Heilala chapter, after reigning for four years. Heilala Festival to be held on 26 June to 6 July, with the theme "Tonga my Kingdom."
Premium content
Wednesday 14 June 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will be among 155 countries and regions confirmed to participate at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.
Premium content
Wednesday 3 May 2023
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Heilala Festival 2023 including the popular Miss Heilala Pageant returns in Nuku'alofa from 26 June to 7 July, after a three-years hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premium content
Friday 28 October 2022
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Zuiderdam cruise ship arrived Nuku'alofa for an overnight visit on 27 October bringing over 2000 passengers and crew.
Premium content
Tuesday 16 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Ministry of Tourism has confirmed today that government is planning for the first repatriation flight of 50 Tongans “after next week as a start” and that the first passengers will arrive “in three weeks from last Friday, if everything is going as planned”.
Tuesday 2 June 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Statistics show a major decrease in international visitors to Tonga between January to March, in comparison to 2019, as CoViD-19 started to spread worldwide and in the months before Tonga closed its border.
Premium content
Thursday 1 August 2019
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
Premium content
Thursday 25 July 2019
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
The idea of the ‘One Pacific Destination’ concept is being accepted after Pacific countries, including Tonga, attended the first-ever Pacific Exposition 2019, held in Auckland, New Zealand on 11-14 July.
Premium content
Thursday 11 July 2019
Premium content
Geneva, Switzerland
Tourism’s potential to play a key role in job creation and economic growth globally while also contributing to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Agenda, was recognized at an event organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Premium content
Tuesday 2 July 2019
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Real Tonga is expanding its international services, which will include flights between Tonga and Fiji to be launched on Monday 29 July.
Premium content
Wednesday 13 June 2018
2 comments
Premium content
Suva, Fiji
Tonga as a tourist destination is attracting only a small share of travellers compared to leading Pacific destinations, which saw large increases in visitors in 2017, according to the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) report released last week.
Premium content
Thursday 1 March 2018
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
First prize has been awarded jointly to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji Airways for the Best of Show/Best New International Exhibitor at the 2018 LA Travel & Adventure Show on 24 February in Los Angeles, USA.
Premium content
Wednesday 18 January 2017
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Sea Princess was the first cruise ship to visit Tonga out of a total of 21 cruise ships expected this year.
Premium content
