A New Zealand travel agency says bookings to Tonga remain strong despite safety concerns with a new MA-60 aircraft flying domestically between Nuku’alofa and Vava’u.
The New Zealand government suspended eight million US dollars of tourism aid in July and issued a travel advisory against New Zealanders using the Real Tonga plane.
The aircraft, which was gifted from China, has one of the world’s worst safety records.
But the House of Travel commercial director, Brent Thomas, says there have been very few cancellations by concerned travelers.
He says figures show a 17 per cent growth in travelers to Tonga in the first seven months of this year and bookings have remained just as strong since.
“Fiji’s up 1 per cent, the Cook Islands is down 3 percent, Samoa is down 9 percent. Vanuatu, another strong area, is up 49 percent, and Tonga is up 17 percent. So, you know, in terms of the numbers going to Tonga for the first seven months of this year, is very strong.”
Brent Thomas says many travelers’ plans would not be affected by the travel advisory as the MA-60 aircraft flies to only one island.
