Economic Overview
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Tonga: Economy | Asian Development Bank
https://www.adb.org/countries/tonga/economy
Tourism was strong as international arrivals increased by almost 15.0%. The growth projection for FY2017 is revised down slightly to account for a base effect from surprisingly good growth in FY2016, but the economy is expected to enjoy continued support from vibrant construction and tourism
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Tonga Economy 2016, CIA World Factbook
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/tonga/tonga_economy.html
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand.
Industry Trends & Business Climate
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Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry
http://new.tongachamber.org/
Current business news from the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Doing Business in Tonga – World Bank Group
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/tonga
This World Bank site ranks Tonga with other countries for ease of doing business
Establishing a Presence
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Starting a Business in Tonga: Legal Requirements
http://tongachamber.org/howstart.php
There are three things that need to be done: company registration (unless conducting business as a sole trader or in partnership), acquisition of a business license, and (if a foreign investor), acquisition of a foreign investment certificate. All three are done through the Ministry of Labour, Commerce, and Industry (MLCI).
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Starting a Business in Tonga
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/tonga/starting-a-business
This World Bank site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Tonga.
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Starting a Business in Tonga: Legal Requirements
http://tongachamber.org/howstart.php
There are three things that need to be done: company registration (unless conducting business as a sole trader or in partnership), acquisition of a business license, and (if a foreign investor), acquisition of a foreign investment certificate. All three are done through the Ministry of Labour, Commerce, and Industry (MLCI).
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Starting a Business in Tonga
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/tonga/starting-a-business
This World Bank site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Tonga.
Taxes
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TOTAL TAX RATE (% OF PROFIT) IN TONGA
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/tonga/total-tax-rate-percent-of-profit-wb-data.html
Total tax rate (% of profit) in Tonga was last measured at 30.10 in 2015, according to the World Bank. Total tax rate is the total amount of taxes payable by businesses (except for labor taxes) after accounting for deductions and exemptions as a percentage of profit. This page has the latest recorded value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Total tax rate (% of profit) in Tonga.
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Tonga Corporate Tax Rate – multpl.com
http://www.multpl.com/tonga-corporate-tax-rate
Tonga Corporate Tax Rate chart, historic, and current data. Current Tonga Corporate Tax Rate is 30.10%.
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Tonga Politics, government, and taxation
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Tonga-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT-AND-TAXATION.html
Personal income tax is set at 10 percent
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Ministry of Revenue
http://www.revenue.gov.to/Article.aspx?ID=1545
Tax information for individuals from the Ministry of Revenue & Customs
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Tonga Sales Tax Rate | 2014-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/tonga/sales-tax-rate
The Sales Tax Rate in Tonga stands at 15 percent. Sales Tax Rate in Tonga averaged 11.67 percent from 2014 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 15 percent in 2015 and a record low of 5 percent in 2014.
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Paying Taxes in Tonga
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/tonga/paying-taxes
This site provides a tax table for Tonga including the VAT rate (15%)
Visas
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Tonga Visa and Passport Requirements
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/tonga/passport-visa
Tonga visa and passport requirements & Embassy and Colsulate addresses. Full detail on passports, visas and entry requirements for Tonga
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Tonga Visa: Application, Requirements
https://tonga.visahq.com/#!tonga-Tourist-visa
Comprehensive Information on Tonga Visa Requirements
Infrastructure
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Tonga Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips
https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Australia_and_Oceania/Tonga/Transportation-Tonga-TG-C-1.html
Tips on getting to and getting around Tonga from real travelers and locals.
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Tonga — Transportation – iExplore
http://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/australia-and-south-pacific/tonga/transportation
Considering Tonga comprises of 176 islands, albeit only 52 of which are inhabited, you will need to consider further options than road transportation for getting around, such as scheduled flights.
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Results for Communications | Matangi Tonga
http://matangitonga.to/topic/communications?page=1
Telecom information from the leading news website in Tonga
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Telecom News – CommsUpdate Tonga
https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/lists/country/tonga/
Current news items on the telecom industry in Tonga
Employer Obligations
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Labor Market Regulation in Tonga
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/tonga/labor-market-regulation
This site provides a detailed summary of some of the labor regulations that would apply to local entrepreneurs wishing to hire workers, organize working schedules, improve job quality for workers, or make workers redundant for economic reasons in Tonga.
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Guide to Law Online: Tonga
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/nations/tonga.php
A guide to the laws of Tonga from the US Library of Congress
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Tonga – state.gov
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27791.htm
The Government’s human rights record remained poor. Citizens do not have the right to change their government. At times, the authorities infringed on freedom of speech and of the press. Some women suffered from domestic violence; women also faced discrimination and limited employment and economic opportunities. In practice, the right to form labor unions was restricted by the lack of implementing regulations.
Culture/Living
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Tonga – Culture, Customs & Etiquette
http://search.aol.com/aol/search?enabled_terms=&s_it=client97_searchbox&q=Tonga+-+business+etiquette
Guide to travel, doing business, and studying in Tonga – culture, greetings, gestures,etiquette, taboos, negotiations, gift-giving, and more.
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Tonga: Tipping & Etiquette
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294141-s606/Tonga:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
In Tonga, Kava is a popular drink that is to be drunk nightly. In Tonga, only men are allowed to drink this beverage and only women can even be around the concoction if they are serving it.
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Cost of Living in Tonga
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Tonga
Average prices of more than 40 products and services in Tonga. Prices of restaurants, food, transportation, utilities and housing are included.
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Cost of Living in Tonga 2016
https://www.costtotravel.com/living-cost/oceania/tonga
Comprehensive information about travel and living cost in Tonga and all of its cities
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Tonga Facts | Government, Economy, Demographics
http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/126/Tonga
Demographic facts and statistics on Tonga
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Tonga travel advice – GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tonga/safety-and-security
Latest travel advice for Tonga including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health
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Tonga Education System
http://www.classbase.com/Countries/Tonga/Education-System
Not much can be said about education in this string of south pacific islands where as many people have moved away as those who live there. At least education is free and compulsory between ages 6 and 14 and the literacy rate is close to 99%.
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Tonga | Education Policy Data Center
http://www.epdc.org/country/tonga
A brief commentary on the structure of the education system in Tonga and how students progress through the system
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Tonga Public Holidays 2016 and 2017
http://publicholidays.asia/tonga/
Tonga currently celebrates 11 national holidays each year. National holidays are regulated under the Tonga Public Holidays Act which was revised in 1988.
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Public Holidays in Tonga in 2017
https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/tonga/2017.php
Comprehensive list of National and Regional Public Holidays that are celebrated in Tongaduring 2017 with dates and information on the origin and meaning of holidays.
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Tonga – The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tn.html
See “People and Society” on this CIA site
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Weather and Climate: Tonga
https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Tonga
Weather and Climate information for Tonga. Average monthly Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperatures, Humidity, Wind Speed
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Climate – Tonga – average, area, annual, temperature
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Tonga-CLIMATE.html#ixzz4SMKGhZQj
The climate of Tonga is basically subtropical. Because the islands are in the southeast trade wind area, the climate is cooler from May to December, when the temperature seldom rises above 27° C (81° F ).
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Tonga | SafeTravel
https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/tonga
Crime levels in Tonga are relatively low, although petty crime, such as property theft does occur. There have also been some incidences of house break-ins and violent assault associated with robbery.
Trade
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Tonga Customs Regulations
https://tonga.visahq.com/customs/
Tonga Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at border.
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Tonga Customs, Currency & Airport Tax regulations details
http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/TO-Tonga-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm
Customs information for individuals entering Tonga
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Customs: Regulations, Export-Import
https://cape-verde.visahq.com/customs/
A summary of import and export regulations
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International Trade – The Tonga Chamber of Commerce
http://tongachamber.org/international.php
This site provides information on Tonga’s trade agreements from the Chamber of Commerce
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WTO | Tonga – Member information
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/tonga_e.htm
This site provides key information on Tonga’s participation in the WTO. Tonga has been a member of WTO since 27 July 2007.
Housing and Rentals
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The 10 Best Tonga Accommodation of 2016
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g294141-Tonga-Hotels.html
Find 3,970 traveller reviews and 4,558 candid photos for 43 Tonga hotels on TripAdvisor.
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House Rentals – Property Tonga
http://propertytonga.com/house-rentals.html
A lsting of possible house rentals from a rental agent in Tonga
Travel
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Tonga Travel Guide and Travel Information
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/tonga
Expert Tonga travel guide including detailed information about everything you need to know about Tonga.
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Tonga 2016: Best of Tonga Tourism
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294141-Tonga-Vacations.html
11,233 reviews of Tonga Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Tonga resource