“Lord Prime Minister Promotes Tonga’s New Tourism Marketing Campaign”

Tonga has launched its new tourism marketing campaign in New Zealand and Australia on 12 May, featuring advertising on television and outdoor billboards in New Zealand, and online advertising in both countries. Using the tagline “the True South Pacific”, the campaign has been designed to highlight the unique aspects of Tonga and the wide range of holiday options available across the 176 islands that make up the Kingdom. Running through May and June, the campaign will raise awareness and offer holiday options to Kiwis and Aussies just as they make decisions about their winter South Pacific holidays.

Tonga’s Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour, Lord Tu’ivakano said that “this is a difficult time for Tonga’s tourism sector, and this new campaign demonstrates Government’s commitment to boosting tourism development”. Lord Tu’ivakano added that “Tourism is Government’s top priority for economic development and the potential to spur connecting economic activities in the Kingdom is vital. Recent market research shows awareness of Tonga as a holiday destination is relatively low, so investing in this profile-building campaign starting in 2013 is an essential part of our plan to boost tourism growth”, he said.

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Way Forward for the Employment Relations Bill 2013

The Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour has recently completed the first stage of its consultation process on the Employment Relations Bill 2013, a milestone in the development of a fair and effective labour market in Tonga. As iterated by the Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour, Dr. Honourable Viliami Uasike Latu, in his opening statement at the workshop, “the Employment Relations Bill 2013 aims to provide the fundamental principles of a fair labour market including rights at work and due processes, and the protection of employment relations”.

The workshop in the Tungi Collonade on 8 May 2013 was well attended by stakeholders from government, private sector business associations, employees associations, churches and non-government organizations. Discussions identified the need to put in place a legal framework that establishes a fair labour market for all tripartite stakeholders i.e employees, employers and Government. The agreed way forward for the development of the Bill included:

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PUBLIC NOTICE – Tonga Tourism Authority Board of Directors

Tourism has demonstrated potential to lead the country’s economic recovery and long term growth with tourism receipts increasing from TOP49.6 million in 2008 to TOP68.6 million in 2012. International best practice shows that maximizing this tourism growth requires effective destination marketing that is driven by the private sector. The Tonga Tourism Authority Act 2012 provides for the establishment of a private sector led Tourism Authority to drive the marketing of Tonga as a tourism destination under a strong partnership between the public and private sectors.

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Government Determined to Introduce the Employment Relations Bill 2013

Government had supported and provided the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour with a fresh mandate to develop and engage public consultation on Employment Relations Bill 2013.  The Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu stated that “Government is concerned with the prolonged absence of labour legislation in Tonga which have negative effects on the protection of rights at work and a fair labour market.”

2.         Hon. Dr. Latu further stated “Government over the last three decades undertook failed attempts back in 1982, 1993, 2002, 2005.  Therefore Government is so determined to avoid further delays and introduce the Employment Relations Bill in 2013 to provide the fundamental principles of a fair labour market, rights at work and due process and protection for employment relations.”

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PUBLIC NOTICE: INVITATION FOR COMMENTS ON THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BILL, 2013.

Public Notice Tongan and English version pdf

Final Draft  ERB 2013 pdf