Tourism Infrastructure - Invest in Tonga

Economic contribution: Tourism plays an increasingly important role in Tonga’s economy, contributing around 11% of GDP and supporting approximately 9% of total employment—equivalent to about 4,000 jobs across the country.
National priority: The sector is recognized by the government as a key pillar of sustainable development and economic diversification, and is prioritized in major strategies such as the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and the Tourism Sector Roadmap.
Ambitious growth goals: Tonga aims to increase tourism’s share of GDP, jobs, and visitor arrivals by promoting high-value, sustainable tourism that capitalizes on its marine and cultural assets.
Collaborative promotion: To drive this growth, the Tonga Tourism Authority and Ministry of Tourism are working closely with the Investment Promotion Division of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development to attract and facilitate tourism investment, improve infrastructure, and create a more enabling business environment.

Accommodation development: Invest in luxury eco-resorts, boutique lodges, mid-range hotels, and guesthouses. Redevelop existing properties in key tourism zones or coastal areas.
Hospitality & leisure services: Develop wellness retreats, spas, high-quality restaurants, bars, and retail outlets. Offer guided tours, cultural experiences, and sporting activity support services.
Tour & marine operations: Expand diving centers, boat excursions, cultural tours, sport fishing, and heritage site visits. Strengthen yachting services including marina facilities, vessel management, and maintenance.
Transport & infrastructure: Upgrade airport capacity and domestic airline connectivity. Improve inter-island sea transport, jetties, cruise terminals, and rental mobility (bikes, scooters, vehicles).
Tourism training & human capital: Establish vocational centers to train hospitality staff and tourism operators. Improve customer service quality and language skills.
Attractions & cultural sites: Develop visitor centers, hiking trails, wildlife viewing decks, and eco-sites. Revitalize museums, memorials, cultural villages, and historic landmarks.

Nature-based & eco-tourism: Whale watching, island hopping, bird watching, and white sand beaches.
Wellness & leisure tourism: Beachfront eco-resorts and wellness retreats.
Recreational tourism: Scooba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sport fishing, hiking, yachting and sailing, and caving and lava tube exploration.
Cultural tourism: Traditional lifestyle experiences, handicrafts, performances, and local cuisine.
Historical tourism: Heritage sites and historic landmarks.

Young and growing market: Tonga remains a mid-sized tourism destination in the Pacific, with international arrivals reaching 62,868 in 2024, representing a modest share of total regional traffic. Despite this, Tonga has maintained a steady upward trajectory, with a 2.6% average annual growth rate in international visitors from 2018 to 2024.
Strong post-pandemic recovery: Following a dramatic drop during the pandemic, Tonga’s tourism sector has shown a robust rebound, reaching over 82% of pre-pandemic levels (2019 Vs 2023) outperforming Asia & Pacific (65.9%), and Pacific Small Island States (63.4%) recovery rates.

^{Note 1: Figures from 2019 are used, as the most recent available data at UNWTO for most of the Pacific States (2022) still reflects the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns. - Note 2: International visitor recovery 2023 values / 2019 values. Comparing with 2024 values, the recovery rate for Tonga was 93.4%. - Source: https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance -}^{https://tongastats.gov.to/statistics/social-statistics/migration/}

Key source markets: New Zealand is the leading source of international visitors to Tonga, accounting for 32.6% of arrivals, followed by Australia (27.0%) and USA (23.6%). Together, these three markets represent over 83% of total inbound travel.
Rapid post-pandemic tourism revenue recovery: Before the COVID-19 , Tonga generated over US$57 million annually from international tourism. By 2023, the sector had fully rebounded, reaching 103% of pre-pandemic levels (US$59 million). In 2024, revenues surged further to US$105 million, marking a 184% recovery and highlighting the sector’s strong momentum and growth potential.

High-value visitors: In 2024, international tourists to Tonga spent an average of US$1,669 per person per trip, with an average stay of 9 nights.
Purpose of visit: Holiday travel leads as the main reason for visiting Tonga, accounting for 53% of international arrivals, followed by Visiting family & friends (18%) and Business (17%). Together, these top 3 purposes represent over 88% of total inbound travel.

^{Source: SPTO (www.southpacificislands.travel/pacific-tourism-data-initiative/ptdi-reports-tonga/#1718749885561-cd86e8d4-f09d)}

Growing cruise tourism: In 2024, Tonga welcomed 16,214 visitors* through cruise ships operated by 8 international cruise lines, highlighting the country’s emerging appeal as a Pacific cruise destination.

^{* Same-day visitors (excursionists), not considered overnights visitors (international tourists-travelers)}