Tonga had benefitted from taking part in this month’s Pacific Exposition in Auckland, according to the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, Sione Finau Moala-Mafi.
Organised by Indonesia, the event was held in Auckland on July 11-14.
The four day event was aimed at increasing business opportunities and developing networks for business communities, governments, and tourism authorities in the region.
About 20 countries took part in the event, which featured live performance and displays of locally made goods.
Moala-Mafi said Tonga wanted to display its culture and make the most of the opportunities for making contact with other countries and tourist organisations.
He said that said as well as taking part in the exposition booths and the Pacific cultural festival, Tonga also took part in the tourist forum and the business and investment forum.
“These forums allowed us to share our strengths and also the similar challenges that have become issues of concern for our countries today,” Moala-Mafi said.
He said sharing experience and idea with representatives of other Pacific nations had encouraged Tonga to work more closely with them on promoting tourism.
He said developing the idea of ‘One Pacific Destination’ would benefit tourism in the region.
Moala-Mafi was accompanied by Government and Private sector counterparts from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Tonga Tourist Association, Tonga Youth Congress and other representatives of the private sector in Tonga.
Influence
This month’s Pacific Exposition was seen by many commentators as part of a wider multi-million dollar effort by Indonesia to increase its influence in the Pacific.
Indonesia has been widely criticised by a number of Pacific states, particularly Tonga and Vanuatu, for it continued oppression of the indigenous people of West Papua.
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has spoken at the United Nations about what he called the “injustice, cruel violation of human rights and dignity and brutal treatment in West Papua.”
Activists supporting the West Papuan liberation struggle protested outside the exposition in Auckland.
The main points
- Tonga had benefitted from taking part in this month’s Pacific Exposition in Auckland, according to the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, Sione Finau Moala-Mafi.
- Organised by Indonesia, the event was held in Auckland on July 11-14.
For more information
Tonga urged to continue its support for West Papua’s struggle for independence at the UN
