Air New Zealand is supporting strong demand to Niue by providing additional capacity to the destination.

Initially this has involved upsizing the aircraft to the A321 used for the once-a-week flight for most of the period to the end of October. This provides an extra 50 seats each way.

Niue welcomed the first migratory Oceania humpback whales to its shores last week, marking an early start to the traditional season, which runs from July to October. During this time, pods of humpback arrive to calve and nurse their young in the sheltered sanctuary of Niue.

Niue Tourism has been busy connecting with the industry this week, celebrating the return of quarantine-free, weekly flights to Niue that started on Tuesday 28 June.

Delivering colourful baskets full of tropical fruits to key suppliers and sharing a special ‘Celebration Cake’ with Pacific Island management at Air New Zealand, were on the agenda.

Scenic Matavai Resort will initially open with around half of its capacity offering 32 resort rooms when Niue opens to visitors on 27 June.

This will comprise Deluxe rooms which opened in 2017, together with Superior Clifftop and Superior rooms. All hotel facilities will be open to guests, including the restaurant, lobby bar, pool bar, conference centre and two swimming pools. Authentic Niuean culture will continue to be the focus of the resort’s entertainment offering for evenings and be integrated into many other elements of the guest experience, such as the traditional feast night.

Signs are promising that Niue will open to New Zealand quarantine-free in the fourth quarter of this year, according to the chair of the Pacific Island nation’s Tourism Advisory Board, Vanessa Marsh.

Marsh emphasises that a two-way bubble will be dependent on the vaccination roll out in Niue, plus agreement by both governments. However, there is reason to be optimistic with vaccinating expected to start in Niue
in June and take six weeks.

Scenic Matavai Resort Niue has appointed Jodi van de Wydeven as business development manager for meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE).

Business development manager for Scenic Hotel Group, Michelle Geale, recently took a group of corporate agents and events organisers to experience Niue and Scenic Matavai Resort Niue plus the Matavai Conference Centre Niue.

APX ambassadors returned from Niue on Saturday after four days of adventure, relaxation and sun at the Scenic Matavai Resort in Niue.

The new Matavai Convention Centre Niue was opened yesterday by New Zealand Prime Minister, Bill English, and Sir Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue. It aims to bring a massive boost to tourism and the economy of Niue.

The multi-million dollar centre, with capacity for up to 168 conference delegates, sits in a spectacular cliff top location at the Scenic Matavai Resort Niue.

Brendan Taylor, Scenic Hotel Group managing director, says the opening of the conference centre will act as a ‘huge enabler’ for the island’s emerging tourism industry. ‘Flow-on benefits from this high yielding sector will likely filter throughout the island’s economy.’

‘Flow-on benefits from this high yielding sector will likely filter throughout the island’s economy.’