Results for Travel

Tonga will ratify the Pacific Island Air Service Agreement (PIASA) in October, according to Tonga's new Minister for Civil Aviation, Hon. Paul Karalus.

Airline Tonga introduced a 50-seater Convair aircraft to its domestic air service on July 3, servicing the Tongatapu-Vava‘u-Ha‘apai route twice daily from Monday to Saturday.

Tonga's 2006 Miss Heilala Pageant began yesterday afternoon June 27 with the inauguration ceremony of 11 Miss Heilala contestants at the Vai Ko Lata Ai Beach, Fua‘amotu. Photos and story by Linny Folau

Four new entrants in the 2006 Miss Heilala Pagant bring the number of contestants to 10, but registration is still open. The new entrants include one from New Zealand, two from Australia, and one from the USA.

When the Paradise International Hotel in Vava'u put out the call to the island's youth to form an authentic Tongan song and dance group, 10 boys, six girls, and three musicians responded. For the last six weeks the youth, known as the Paradise International Hotel Cultural Group, practiced two hours a day, five days a week culminating in their first public performance this past week.

There will be no Peau Vava'u Airways domestic service in Tonga until May 11, the airline announced today, , after returning their 50 seater Convair aircraft to New Zealand on May 5.

Tourists from Mainland China are expected to start using Tonga as a holiday destination later this year, said Va'inga Palu, Director of Tourism, who this week welcomed the Chinese vice-minister for tourism and Chinese tour operators.

There is no air service to the island of 'Eua, because Tonga's Ministry of Civil Aviation does not have the funds to fence the runway on the island to keep away stray animals, and a recent test flight found it was not safe to land with stray pigs on the runway.

The first Pacific Blue Vava'u Festival opened today February 2 with a range of activities from game fishing to running, swimming, cycling, traditional dancing and a handicrafts fair.