A new committee known as Vavaʻu Cruise Boat Steering Committee has been elected to improve and encourage Vavaʻu tourism.
As the Fiji new air services are expected to give Vavaʻu tourism a substantial lift starting next month, the new steering committee has been given the duty of finding ways to increase the number of cruise ships coming to Vavaʻu.
Chairman of Tonga Tourism Authority Tomifa Paea said: “The Cruise Boat arrival into Vava’u has declined in the last 3 years as no such committee was in charge to make sure the Cruise Boat arrival is secure, safe, clean” and visitors are warmly welcomed.
He said Tonga Tourism Authority (TTA) has planned that for the next two to three years any cruise ships coming to Tongatapu would have to call at Vavaʻu.
This year only eight cruise liners out of 19 scheduled for Nukuʻalofa would visit Neiafu.
Paea said he “was happy to see the energy and enthusiasm from the operator wanting to do something to help build tourism in Vava’u”.
“With the Fiji Airways new international flight route Nadi/Vava’u this opens up Vavaʻu to the rest of the world”, he said.
The newly elected Vava’u Tourism Association Executive Officers:
1. President – Mr. Calvin Schumaker ( Aquarium Cafe )
2. Vice Pres. – Ms. Amber Bowe ( Mounu Resort )
3. Secretary – Mrs. Beth Black ( Mafana Island Beach BPkers. )
4. Treasurer – Mrs. Caryl Jones ( Jones Business Services )
Other members
1. Mrs. Sandy Cieslinski ( Vava’u Adventures )
2. Mrs. Vaasi Kupu ( Hill-top Hotel )
3. Charles ( South Pacific Sea Adventures )
4. Mrs. Tupou Tua ( ‘Utulei my Tongan home )
5. Mrs. Brenda Cox. ( Endangered Encounters )
6. Mrs. Setima Hanif ( C’scape Adventures )
7. Mr. Allan Morey ( Vava’u Boat-yard )
