We have been appointed to market in New Zealand the Royal Sunset Island Resort on Atata Island in Tonga. The Resort is on Tongatapu, the main island and is around 20 minutes by boat from Nuku'alofa, the capital.

The Sunset Resort is popular as a day trip for locals who want to get away for the day and have full use of the Resorts water sports, and popular with New Zealanders who's numbers have more than dopubled over the past year.

"Its appeal is in its authenticity which more and more people want to experience. Tonga culture at its best." says Ross Mclauchlan the principal of Oceania Tourism. "If you want a dacquiri then go to Denerau", saya Mclauchlan, in reference to the fact that there are plenty of places around the Pacific, particularly in the North, where Australians and New Zealanders go for the sun and beaches but they are scant on delivery of the local culture.

The Resort, and indeed Tonga which boasts the new slogan 'The True South Pacific', is a new destination in comparison with the Cook Islands and Fiji which are traditional holiday destionations that we all went to when we were kids. The fact an emerging destination where things are a bit 'raw' in terms of customer service, is part of the appeal.

"These guys are for real", says McLauchlan.