The recent riots of 16/11 and subsequent destruction of downtown Nuku`alofa have seen a major impact on visitor arrivals into the kingdom.

 

 

The most significant drop was the month of December, traditionally the most popular month for both tourists and Tongans living abroad to visit the kingdom, where passenger arrivals were down by 23%.

 

In December 2005 Tonga measured a total of 8,281 arrivals compared with December 2006 which had dropped to only 6,411. Several tourism operators and hotels in Tonga mentioned a rush in last minute cancellations for the Christmas period the week after the violent riots shook the nation’s capital.

 

While the Fiji Tourism Bureau has been quick to offer tourists competitive packages as part of a recovery effort in light of the recent coup to encourage tourists back to Fiji, the Tonga Visitor’s Bureau is yet to offer a similar package.

 

Story: Sulieni Leiti