Deserted Niue plunges into tourism crisis

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The tourists have left Niue, its resorts are empty, and there is no one left to answer the phone at the island's airport.

A lone cleaner at the tourism office says everyone has gone home.

For two weeks, since two planes operated by the only airline flying there were grounded, Niue has been one of the world's loneliest places.

Royal Tongan Airlines shelved its weekly return flights from Niue to Auckland and Tonga after the Civil Aviation Authority in Nuku'alofa grounded the planes. The airline is now saying the flights were unprofitable and may not be resumed.

The only way to get to the island is by hitching a ride on a cargo ship, which visits once a month, or by chartering a small Air Fiji plane to the island's Hanan Airport.

Niue now has a tourism crisis, which has prompted Premier Sani Lakatani to appeal to New Zealand for urgent help.

In the high season, up to 70 tourists go to Niue each week, making tourism a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

The crisis left an unknown number stranded on the self-governing island for 15 days, and has stopped New Zealand's 20,000 Niueans from visiting their relatives back home.

By last Sunday, most tourists had managed to leave on hastily arranged charter flights. The authorities say there is one tourist left in Niue, although no one is able to confirm who it is.

Niuean tourist firms are starting to suffer and are hoping that Mr Lakatani, who took one of the last flights from the island, can negotiate an urgent solution in New Zealand.

The manager of Matavai Resort in Alofi, Bryce Newcombe, says he has already lost $40,000 from an annual turnover of $1 million, and has been forced to shut temporarily.

"It's a huge problem," he says. "I've got 40 staff affected, and the fishermen here can't sell their fish, so that's another 20 families."

Waimanu Guest House manager Asu Pulu says his facility is empty and tourists are non-existent.

Niue, an island of 2000 people, relies heavily on NZ aid money. Mr Lakatani has been discuss a solution.ntediscussing a solution with officials in Wellington.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it has brought in a consultant to help Niue to sort out the airline problem. It has not decided whether it should give more help.

Auckland-based Niuean broadcaster Mele Heketoa-Tokimua says there is a lot of uncertainty in her community about what will happen next.

"People who have been here for a holiday are now stuck here," she says. "It is a big problem that needs to be addressed. That's our only link with people back home."

The Herald also spoke to an Auckland woman who said she had arranged to have two weeks off work to visit a friend in Niue, but travel agents were giving her conflicting information about her trip.

Royal Tongan Airlines chief executive officer Semisi Taumoepeau says he hopes the two grounded planes will be allowed to fly again by the end of next week.

However, the Niue route has been unprofitable for the airline and its long-term future will be reviewed.

"We're the only contact for Niue, but it's not financially viable for us," he says. "During the high season, we were flying only 70 people a week."

Air New Zealand will double its flights to Tonga from Monday, but spokesman Cameron Hill says there are no plans to fly to Niue.