hotel for "1,000

Niue to build a hotel for "1,000 tourists a year"

Although commercial airline flights from other territories are not to arrive before March next year, the 100-mile square Poly nesian island of Niue has de cided to plan and encourage a

tourist industry.

After considerable debate, Niue’s 14-man Assembly gave tourism the go-ahead at a recent session.

An airstrip is under construction, expected to be capable of taking military aircraft from October this year, and to be upgraded for possible commercial use by between March and June next year.

Possible operators to Niue include Fiji Airways and Polynesian Airlines.

But officially, no carrier has applied for Niue “rights”.

Niue’s Assembly decided to try to achieve an initial target of 1,000 visitors a year after the first two years of commercial airline calls to Niue.

It called for an hotel, costing be tween SNZ 120,000 and $150,000 to be built in the proximity of the airstrip or Alofi township area, with between 24 and 28 rooms.

The Assembly decided to initially encourage private enterprise, rather than government, to own and operate the hotel, and that government only run the hotel should no suitable entrepreneur be found.

Liquor allowed

Sales of liquor to those staying at the hotel, and their friends, would be permitted, as would liquor sales to people visiting the hotel to have a meal.

Another decision was to amend the island’s entry permits system to allow visitors one month’s entry, provided outward bookings were pro duced.

The Assembly drew up a pro gramme of events for its tourism schedule: The only money currently avail able in Niue’s budget for tourism is a SNZ 100,000 grant from the NZ Government for 1970 and 1971.