Now Niue Joins The Tourism Club

Niue Island, in 1974. will join the growing number of South Pacific territories to embrace tourism. As a base it will have a 40-bed hotel, financed partly with New Zealand money. It could be the forerunner of an important new industry for one af the smallest developing communi ties in the Pacific.

The Niue Government is spending $220,000 on the hotel, which will be an a high plateau, overlooking the sea at Amanau, in the main town of Alofi. The hotel was designed by the Niue Public Works Department.

It will have a 12-sided foyer with domed roof, opening out into a two storey bedroom block.

Mr Harry Coleman, chairman of the Niue Tourist Board, a former NZ civil servant now living permanently on Niue, says there could be a good potential for a small, but steady, tourist flow, particularly by New Zealanders seeking winter sun.

“The winter is very good here, with warm clear days and cool nights,” he said. "The main attrac tions will be fishing, particularly spear fishing in the very clear water, swimming, coral viewing, caving and sightseeing.”

Below, the new hotel takes shape.