Tonga at the Crossroads
The Government of Tonga has been singularly unsuccessful in suppressing Te Taimi o Tonga. In the age of the Internet, it is virtually impossible to control dissemination of information. The government was able to pass this legislation because of the voting structure in the country. The political situation in Tonga has certain parallels to the reign of the last Louis. The situation is a let them eat cake sort of situation in that the ruling class does not understand the situation and are thereby unable to control it even though they have the hammer when it comes to votes.
The voting structure in Tonga is as follows: There are thirty seats in the legislature. Twelve are reserved for cabinet ministers, nine for nobles, who are elected by the thirty-three nobles - heridatary chiefs. The remaining nine votes constitute the popular vote.
This structure does not mean that the ruling class has free reign. Tonga is dependent upon two entities for hard currency. The most vital factor in the Tongan economy is the remittance money sent home by overseas Tongans. The present population of Tonga is estimated to be just over 100,000 (1996 tonga Census 97,784). However, in California, which has the largest expatriate Tonga community, there are 36,982 Tongan nationals resident in the Golden Gate state, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. If it weren't for remittance funds, the Tongan economy would collapse in a heartbeat.
The second vital factor in the economy is tourism. Tonga offers tourists adventure, tranquility and beauty.
Whaleswim Adventures is an eco tourism operation that does not do tours; it does expeditions.
The Tonga Visitors Bureau website is one of the better South Pacific Islands sites with great graphics and easy navigation.
Over the past five years, Tonga's tourist industry has grown about fifty percent, increasing from 26,000 visitors in 1999 to 40,000 annual visitors in 2003. Thirty five percent of arrivals were from New Zealand, twenty percent from Australia and seventeen percent from the United States. Tonga is looking forward to expanding the Australian market (Tonga Visitors Burea).
Of course, any further development of Tonga's tourist industry will expose islanders to new ideas and provide the Government of Tonga with further challenges to their efforts to maintain the status quo. Political change is inevitable. It is my appraisal that it will come sooner rather than later. Stay tuned.
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