Tonga is expecting 17 cruise ships this year a slight increase from the 15 that visited last year.
More ships are scheduled this year following the opening of the new Vuna Wharf in December 2011, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour.
The first cruise ship to visit Nuku’alofa for 2013 will be the ms COLUMBUS II from Germany with 698 passengers and over 200 crew on January 28. The ms EUROPA also from Germany will arrive in the capital on January 29 with 500 passengers.
Acting CEO of the Ministry, Moana Taukolo, said with a new wharf and cruise steering committee in place would help to develop Tonga as a cruise destination. Of the 17 cruise ships, 13 will call in Nuku’alofa, five to Vava’u and one each to Niuatoputapu, Niuafo’ou and Ha’apai.
The majority of the cruise ships are from Australia, Germany, USA and New Zealand. For the first time a cruise ship from Italian cruise line Costa Cruises will visit Nuku’alofa in November. It is also expected that some cruise ships would visit Tonga twice.
The Government hoped that the new Vuna Wharf would help to drive the economy forward by attracting more cruise ships.
