Tonga lifted Covid restrictions, allowing visitors and Tongans to return to the Pacific nation without undergoing quarantine for the first time since the pandemic struck. The first plane to land was an Air New Zealand flight from Auckland carrying around 200 passengers. "It's good to be back," said 'Etu Palu, eager to see family again with his mother Finau Palu, who said it was "good to visit the motherland!" Another passenger, Siosaia Filikitonga, said this was his first visit to Tonga in more than two years because of the pandemic. "I'm so glad that the border's open and that facilitates the travel between Tonga and the outside world, especially, New Zealand," he said.

Source: Daily Nation August 01, 2022 10:15 UTC