From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Tonga Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 17:34:35 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1899 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199809161336_MC2-59B1-C3F@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 106 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Tonga ============================================================ Tonga - Consular Information Sheet September 15, 1998 Country Description: Tonga is a stable constitutional monarchy and a member of the British Commonwealth. Its agrarian economy is developing and its tourist industry, although limited, is growing. Tourist facilities are concentrated in and around the main island of Tongatupu where the capital, Nuku'alofa, is located. Entry Requirements: A passport and onward/return ticket are required. Visas are not required for stays up to 30 days. For further information about entry requirements, travelers, particularly those planning to enter by sea, may wish to contact the Consulate General of Tonga at 360 Post Street, Suite 604, San Francisco, California 94108; telephone (415) 781-0365. Crime Information: The crime rate in Tonga is low. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or from the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Consular Affairs homepage at http://travel.state.gov. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Tonga are limited. The cities of Nuku'alofa and Neiafu have hospitals with emergency and outpatient facilities. Local residents and visitors with serious medical problems are often referred to New Zealand for treatment. Travelers may also wish to consider obtaining information regarding entry requirements for New Zealand from the Embassy of New Zealand in Washington, D.C., telephone (202) 328-4800. Medical Insurance: Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payments for health services. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment for medical services outside of the United States. Supplemental medical insurance which specifically covers treatment overseas and includes a provision for medical evacuation may prove useful. Other Health Information: Helpful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Consular Affairs homepage at http://travel.state.gov and the autofax service at (202) 647-3000. Additional information on health matters may be obtained from the international travelers hotline at 1-888-232-3228, via the CDC autofax service at 1-888-232-3299 or via the CDC homepage on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, nor economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and Tonga, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Tonga's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Tonga air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet homepage at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Traffic moves on the left in Tonga. While roads in Nuku'alofa are paved, most other roads are not. Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous. Registration/Embassy Location: There is no U.S. Embassy nor other U.S. diplomatic post in Tonga. Assistance for U.S. citizens in Tonga is provided by the U.S. Embassy in Fiji, which is located at 31 Loftus Street in the capital city of Suva. The telephone number is (679)314-466, the fax number is (679)300-081. Americans may register with the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji and obtain up-to-date information on travel and security in Tonga from the Embassy. No. 98-126 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 20, 1996 to revise the sections about entry requirements, and medical facilities, and to add a new section on aviation safety oversight. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories