Results for Travel

2017 is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, declared by the United Nations General Assembly on 29 December as it pushes for a more inclusive industry. As more tourists look to enjoy a unique experience in a healthy and pristine natural environment, sustainable tourism will need to be developed to deliver and operate responsibly to survive.

Around 2000 Chinese tourists visited Nuku’alofa on Friday, December 16, on an Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica, which began its journey from China. They are the largest group of Chinese tourists to arrive since visa waivers were introduced this year.

Christmas is coming to Nuku'alofa next week when four cruise ships will visit the capital, bringing thousands of visitors from December 12-16.

An Eco-tourism project, Vai ko Felefonu (Felefonu Pool) in Vaini was officially launched by the Acting Prime Minister, Lord Ma’afu and his son Hon. Tevita 'Unga last Friday, 18 November, after the area received a $70,000 make-over. The project has provided a landscaped space that can be used for the selling of handicrafts by women and youth interested in tourism activities.

A Tongan cultural group was among performers from three countries opening the show at the Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo on 27 October, a four-day event that has attracted over 40 countries with more than 2000 booths and over 100,000 people at Dongguan City, People's Republic of China.

A black-out at the Fua’amotu International Airport runway at 6.33pm yesterday evening disrupted international air services between Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Two commercial scheduled flights were unable to land, and another private medical evacuation flight was delayed until this morning.

The Chinese MA60 aircraft that was scheduled to resume its domestic air service earlier this month, remains grounded indefinitely, Tevita Palu the CEO for the Real Tonga domestic airline told Matangi Tonga yesterday, 31 August.

Tonga’s recent certification of the MA60 aircraft for its domestic air service did not involve the Pacific Aviation Safety Office or New Zealand Authorities, according to New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Hon. Murray McCully today.

A passenger ferry from Australia is expected to arrive in Tonga and start servicing the outer islands sometime this month, until the inter-island ferry MV 'Otuanga'ofa resume operation in October after repairs in Fiji.