Fiji reaffirms regional leadership in sustainable tourism

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka [2nd from right] during his visit to Tonga, last week [Source: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation/Facebook] Fiji has reaffirmed its leadership and commitment to sustainable tourism...

Pacific Tourism Organisation and Cook Islands Tourism Corporation Release Comprehensive Insights from International Visitor Surveys

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), through its Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and in collaboration with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT), has released a series of five comprehensive reports detailing findings from the...

Tongan rugby league fans are the greatest show in sports

Forget the game. The highlights of Sunday’s Kiwis vs Tonga test happened in the stands. On Sunday, I bought a $20 ticket to the cheap seats in the upper corner of Eden Park to watch the Kiwis vs Tonga in the Pacific Championship. I’ll admit I’m...

Sports recap: Tongan women inspire, All Blacks triumph amid Kiwi Ferns controversy

Here are some key moments you may have missed from the weekend's sporting action! Tongan women’s XIII captain Natasha Penitani expressed deep emotion to the media following their impressive 42-6 victory against the Papua New Guinea Orchids on...

Experts: Multiple factors behind tidal surges after Tonga eruption

Experts say multiple factors likely caused tidal surges along Japan’s coast after the massive undersea volcanic eruption in Tonga on 15 January. The Japan Meteorological Agency released a report of an expert panel on the surge mechanism on...

Solomon Island and Tonga Roadshows seats selling fast

Solomon Islands and Tonga Roadshows have announced that seats are filling fast for the events in Auckland (17 November), Sydney (18 November), and Brisbane (19 November). Travel agents who haven’t yet registered can secure a seat and discover two...

Tourism sector backs disaster-risk finance at Pacific summit

Pacific islands’ tourism industry is embracing smart investment tools to buffer climate and disaster shocks. At the recent 3rd Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit in Vavaʻu, Tonga, the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC)...

How to watch New Zealand Kiwis vs Tonga on 9Now — it's *FREE*

The Pacific Championships continue this weekend, and New Zealand Kiwis vs Tonga represents a pivotal clash in the battle for a spot in next Saturday's final. Tonga need a win of at least 17 points to leapfrog the Kiwis, and the return of Jason...

Tonga to mark 150 years of its Constitution with week of events

The kingdom will observe the sesquicentennial of its constitution with a five-day national celebration. The Office of the Prime Minister of Tonga has announced that Tonga will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Constitution of Tonga (first...

Tonga bets on China deal to modernise farming ahead of general election

With its general election just weeks away, the government of the Kingdom of Tonga has quietly approved a new trade‑services partnership framework with China, aiming to convert large parts of the island nation’s subsistence agriculture into...

How a Whale Watching Guide Stranded on a Tongan Island Survived for More Than a Year During the Pandemic

“I had to do everything on my own,” Pott says in the Matador Network documentary Water & Solitude: The Story of a Tongan Whale Guide. “I did a lot of spearfishing. I was just trying to survive.” The documentary tells Pott’s story of survival...

Kava Coalition Deepens Pacific Partnerships and Advances Global Recognition for Kava

New MOU in Fiji, scientific collaborations, and UK policy engagement mark major milestones for 2025 SUVA, Fiji, November 5, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- The Kava Coalition announced a series of major developments this month as it continues to expand...

Office politics stop fighters travelling

PAPUA New Guinea has missed the chance to compete at the 2025 World Taekwondo Championships in Wuxi, China, after confusion and administrative issues prevented the country’s representatives from travelling. Veteran Olympian Theresa Tona and rising...

American Samoa Boosts Pacific Tourism Links at SPTO Meetings in Vavaʻu

Vavaʻu, Kingdom of Tonga – From 18–25 October 2025, American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) Director Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia traveled to Vavaʻu, Tonga, to engage in a full suite of strategic regional tourism events hosted by the South Pacific...

Pacific Tourism Organisation and PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Release Papua New Guinea International Visitor Survey (IVS) Results for January–June 2025

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), through its Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and in close collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), has released the Papua New Guinea International Visitor Survey...

Solomon Islands wins bid to host 2026 Ministers meet as 34th Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting Concludes in Vava’u, Tonga

The Solomon Islands won the bid to host the 2026 Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting. The outcome was finalised at the 34th Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting convened in Vava’u, Tonga, reaffirming regional commitment to sustainable tourism and...

Pacific Tourism Leaders Launch Regional Roadmap and Country Pathways for Sustainable and Circular Tourism

On 21st October 2025, Pacific leaders, policymakers, and tourism professionals gathered at the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit (PSTLS 2025) in Tonga to celebrate a major milestone in the region’s sustainable tourism journey — the...

Ian Weiss: Bartending, Scuba Diving and a Passion for World Travel Tales

Ian Weiss is director of sales at Sales & Marketing Professionals. He’s known throughout the pet industry as being a strong sales professional. Prior to being with Sales & Marketing Professionals, he’s been a part of Central Garden and Pet,...

Inside BYU's staying power with Kalani Sitake and crowd-surfing energy

BYU joins Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M as only undefeated teams. Will Big 12 get two CFP bids? Cougars aim to take fate out of committee's hands. BYU has fit and alignment in spades with Kalani Sitake and administration. Kalani Sitake lacks...

The oven that trains cooks, produces 1500 meals a day, and roasts a whole pig, too

The way Felix Tai sees it, a large part of his job as the executive chef at the Polynesian Cultural Center, one of the largest tourist attractions on the island of Oahu, is to allow his guests to feel the spirit of aloha through his food. “Aloha...