The Minister of Tourism Akosita Lavulavu told whale watching and swimming operators in Vava’u if they do not pay their licence fees and insurance on time their licences would be cancelled.
“The Minister has no authority under the Whale Watching and Swimming Regulations to waive the fees or roll it over”, a letter from the Ministry last week April 9, seen by Kaniva News, read.
The Minister was responding after the operators requested to waive the fees for 2021 season because their businesses never gained any profits due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The operators also requested that the payment of licence fees for 2020 be deferred until Tonga opens its border.
The operators also requested that the three year licence term be extended by another year cancelling out year 2020.
They asked the Minister to exclude 3rd party insurance as a requirement for whale watching licence renewals until borders open.
In another request they asked that the whale watching guide tickets 2020 be extended at no cost.
It is understood each operator must pay TOP$1500 per boat licence fee and TOP$2000 for third party insurance.
The Ministry said these licences were valid for three years.
Minister’s response
The Minister declined the requests on all fronts saying there was no authority under the law for the Ministry to waive the requirements for which the operators have asked.
She said “all issued licences continue to be in effect despite Covid-19. Any fees required to be paid in accordance to the law must be paid”.
She said the law says the licences “shall be valid for 3 years”.
The Minster said the licence period cannot be extended to more than three years, “for any reason”.
She reminded the operators that all licence applications must be accompanied by a third party public liability insurance and a copy of insurance policy.
“As an option, please note if applicants and licence holders do not pay their licence fees, their insurance, or fail to provide any other requirement for licences, that this will be deemed a breach of licence conditions. The licence will be cancelled, although you will be encouraged to re-apply for your licence whenever you decide to begin operating again”.
Akosita also said the government’s “priority as of now is the safety and health of its people and is currently concentrating on repatriating thousand of Tongans who are still getting stuck overseas”.
Operators’ reactions
The Minister’s response “frustrated” the Vava’u operators.
They asked whether the country’s state of national emergency allows authorities to consider and make special decisions when their businesses suffered economically.
“Does Govt expect us all to pluck this money out of thin air?, one of the operators, who we choose not to identify, told Kaniva News.
“Basically, if we do not pay we won’t get a license despite the fact that we will not have a season and have not had income since Nov 2019,” they said.
“We are in a state of emergency and special circumstances apply to these times yet the industry that provides so much for this Kingdom is going to be run into the ground.
“A gazette order could be made to ensure that fees are waivered”.
They said the King in his parliamentary closing speech said “that Tourism was one of the industries that needed to be looked after yet as you can see our Minister of Tourism has no desire to do that and wants to cripple the industry instead”.
