This is interesting in light of the NZ Government's travel advisory and McCullys sudden change of pace.

Posted at 03:31 on 03 September, 2013 UTC

A New Zealand travel agency says bookings to Tonga remain strong despite safety concerns with a new MA-60 aircraft flying domestically between Nuku’alofa and Vava’u.

The New Zealand government suspended eight million US dollars of tourism aid in July and issued a travel advisory against New Zealanders using the Real Tonga plane.

The aircraft, which was gifted from China, has one of the world’s worst safety records.

But the House of Travel commercial director, Brent Thomas, says there have been very few cancellations by concerned travellers.

He says figures show a 17 per cent growth in travellers to Tonga in the first seven months of this year and bookings have remained just as strong since.

    “Fiji’s up 1 per cent, the Cook Islands is down 3 per cent, Samoa is down 9 per cent. Vanuatu, another strong area, is up 49 per cent, and Tonga is up 17 per cent. So, you know, in terms of the numbers going to Tonga for the first seven months of this year, is very strong.”

Brent Thomas says many travellers’ plans would not be affected by the travel advisory as the MA-60 aircraft flies to only one island.

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