Tourism

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) conducted six in-country consultations through workshops and stakeholder discussions at a national level to seek valuable feedback from the private and public sector to develop the PCTDS. 

The workshops focused on examining and evaluating key elements that were proposed during the Pacific Cruise Development workshop that was held in Melbourne in June this year. Stakeholders also discussed the best options to adopt in the strategy, keeping in mind the various action steps proposed to put each element into effect.

Tonga has been listed among the world's best sites for responsible whale watching by the Whale Heritage Sites initiative.

Allan Bowe, Tonga's first licensed whale watching operator and who pioneered the industry in Tonga in 1993, says he's delighted at the announcement.

Mr Bowe says most whale-watching operators provide employment in the villages by hiring Tongan skippers and crews.

He says the industry not only helps support whale conservation in Tonga but it has also become a big contributor to the local economy.

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) will participate in a regional tourism seminar in collaboration with partners from the Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (Sydney) and Australian-based national tourism offices of Tahiti, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Niue, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Cook Islands.