Australia Set to Benefit from $167m Tongan Airport Development

Australian travellers and trading partners with Tonga are set to benefit from the opening of the country’s largest international airport.

The new development will allow Aussie tourists to fly direct to Tonga’s main tourism hub Vava'u for the first time as well as expanding trade access for a wider range of goods and services. Australia is Tonga’s second largest tourism market, making up a fifth (19%) of visitor numbers.

Australia is also a key export market for Tonga with two-way trade between the countries valued at AUD$21 million per annum.

The $167m project will see Vava'u International Airport’s existing building replaced with a proposed new 8,000sqm terminal and cargo facility along with an extended runway capable of accommodating long-range aircraft.

The new airport will be one of the world’s first to be designed to meet the needs of a post COVID tourism market and is considered a key component of the strategy in the regeneration and development of higher quality tourism for the Pacific Island nation.

A multi-megawatt renewable energy plant to be built as part of the development will harness solar and wind to power the airport as well as contribute to Vava?u’s resident population of over 13,700 - reducing emissions and working towards eliminating the need for imported diesel, which supplies 90% of power to the island.

Vava'u is Tonga’s main tourism hub, with 34 islands in the group providing dramatic scenery and a world-renowned centre for water-related activities, however the current length of the runway prevents access from larger aircraft - restricting international flights from a number of countries to neighbouring Pacific Islands of Fiji and Samoa.

The new 2,700m extended runway will provide direct access from higher value destinations including Australia, New Zealand, USA, UAE and key Asian markets such as Japan and China.

Havea L. Gatti, Raw Mana Ltd CEO, says the project will provide cargo infrastructure for a wider range of import and export opportunities for Tonga and trading partners such as Australia.

Gatti says currently all airfreight is first transported to Tongatapu, which increases the cost of the produce prior to export and impacts the freshness of the products and the overall price that can be achieved within the target markets.

“While the capacity constraints of Vava'u’s cargo infrastructure limit the majority of agricultural exports to less perishable produce such as vanilla, squash and yams, when the new international airport comes online in 2024 it will open up a range of business opportunities for trading partners and will lead to the diversification of Tongan producers into more high value raw and processed exports.

“The direct flights would make it possible to land fish caught in Tongan waters and other fresh local produce on the tables of Australian restaurants the next day.

Gatti says the airport will also see a significantly increased capacity for high-value tourism and will encourage investment in hotels and associated businesses.

He says multiple funding sources are accessible with a final decision to be made prior to the start of the development.

“Tonga also offers exceptional experiences for tourists ranging from archaeological history extending back over 2,300 years, which includes ancient megaliths through to the ability to see humpback whales nursing newborn calves in shallow waters around the coastline.

“The Vava’u International Airport will provide direct access from key tourism markets helping increase the proportion of Tonga’s GDP that is derived from this sector of the economy. We want to offer a premium experience for visitors which is in line with the positioning of other island destinations such as the Maldives,” says Gatti.

He says the Vava’u group development project would not be possible without the support of His Majesty King Tupou VI, the High Commission of Tonga in London UK, Palms Tonga, and the Tongan Tourism Authority who they will engage with fully on all tourism activities.

Raw Mana, a global construction and services group specialising in civil engineering, renewable energy, international airport and port developments was chosen to lead the project after being referred to the Tongan Government. Their managerial team includes, Tongan nationals Havea Gatti and Sililo Martens, New Zealander Miriama Mahuika, and UK-based Neil Hodson.

The Holiday and Travel Magazine

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Tanoa Hotel Group Update

Tanoa International Hotel

We have all seen the dramatic impact of Covid-19 on our families, our communities and our very way of life. What we’re facing is daunting, but we are heartened by the moments of triumph in everyday acts of courage, humanity and love. Although these are extremely trying times for us all, we remain optimistic that our world will thrive once again. That is the reason that Tanoa Hotel Group remains open to support the local economies in which it operates. We are family owned and managed and we are here to stay!

As it has always been, the safety and security of our guests and our people remains our highest priority. The steps we’re taking on cleanliness and new hospitality norms in partnership with Ecolab shows our commitment to health and safety. By taking care of our people and following these new protocols – we will be collectively taking care of our guests and the global community. Our hotel teams are responding to the crisis around them with great pride by maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. We are all in this together!

We don’t know when the Covid-19 pandemic will be over or when our lives will return to some sort of normalcy, but Tanoa remains open. We are grateful to our guests who continue to support us and we want to say a huge thank you to our teams who work tirelessly to ensure that Tanoa is a safe and healthy place to visit.

Keep safe until we see you again at Tanoa!

All the hotel teams have been doing a fantastic job in these trying times. They all can't wait for borders to open to welcome all their international guests back. In the meantime though - here is a sneaky peak at what they have all been up to. Please note, Tanoa Skylodge Hotel remains closed at this time.

Tanoa International Hotel has been one of the preferred hotels by authorities for all repatriation flight guests, so they have been busy accommodating these guests under strict quarantine protols. Assisting the Fijian Government and the Ministry of Health and medical services has been a privilege as the team are making a major difference in the fight to contain Covid-19 in Fiji. In addition, due to the stringent health and safety procedures being followed, they have been successfully accommodating leisure and corporate guests in a separate block of rooms away from the quarantine guests.

Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel has been accommodating local corporate guests and government ministries during the week, and local leisure guests during the weekends. They have held a small number of functions in the restaurant, and have opened their pool up for locals to use (with any food or beverage purchase) – which is getting a lot of traction!

Tanoa Waterfront Hotel has been accommodating guests, as well as hosting a number of small functions for birthdays, engagements, and weddings – with a few bigger ones on the horizon. Conference business has started to increase which is a positive sign. They have taken this time to upskill all employees by getting all of the team to train in other departments, a great initiative which will bode well for the future.

Tanoa Plaza Hotel was forced to close down for the months of May and June. However, they re-opened their doors on 1st July and were finally able to showcase the brand new refurbishment which was finished earlier this year. Since they re-opened, the team have been excited to welcome guests back, and they have also hosted a few small events and functions.

Tanoa Apartments has remained open and with each apartment being self-contained with cooking facilities, it is a great place to holiday whilst keeping your distance. Its unique hilltop location provides the best views of Nadi and surrounding areas, including the famous Garden of the Sleeping Giant mountain range. The swimming pool area has recently had an upgrade, with a poolside BBQ cooking facility being added for in-house guests to enjoy dinner under the stars, overlooking the stunning night view of Nadi.

Tanoa Tusitala Hotel (and Samoa) have been hit very hard by Covid-19. However with tourism at a stand still, the GM and team have been working hard on the maintenance and upkeep of the hotel so it is ready to welcome guests back as soon as borders open. An overlap of duties and responsibilities has been implemented, where every team member is no longer confined to their usual work, but is rather a ‘floater’ - reassigned from job to job as needed. The teams collaborative effort is the power that is driving Tanoa Tusitala forward and maintaining its reputation as one of the best hotels in Samoa. The hotel is also excited that their very own Executive Chef (Anulesh Chetty) was featured in the Samoan KUKA Tastes of beautiful Samoa show which aired nationally during July. Anulesh created an amazing dish and was able to showcase the hotels amazing farm-to-table concept.

Tanoa Dateline Hotel has been adapting to their new set of circumstances. Whilst tourism is at a standstill, Tonga is, fortunately, one of the few Covid free countries in the world. They look forward to welcoming tourists back in the not too distant future. In the meantime, the team on the ground are taking the time to cultivate a sustainable garden project that reflects current trends of the farm-to-table ethos. The hotel grounds have limited space, but the team have taken on the challenge to utilise any available land and embrace vertical gardening where possible. 

They will also shift from conventional landscaping and replace traditional decorative plants with fruit and vegetables. They have planted pineapples, bananas, passionfruit, papaya, eggplant, okra, beetroot, radishes, tomatoes, chillies, spinach, peanuts, ginger, turmeric, lemon grass and sweetcorn. In addition, they have planted lemon trees, guava and mountain apples, soursop and starfruit which will yield in years to come. The project is in its initial phase and we look forward to updating you on its progress.

Russell Cottages had to close completely for 7 weeks from 25th March due to the level 4 and level 3 lockdown in New Zealand. Since re-opening in mid-May, the team have been excited to welcome guests back. With borders being closed, New Zealanders have been getting out and exploring their own backyard with many choosing to stay at Russell Cottages – the school holidays were especially busy. The team are looking forward to a busy summer season at the cottages. If you are in NZ – book your holiday in now!

Tanoa Hotel Group

https://www.tanoahotels.com/