1 Mar 2011

US show Survivor drops Tonga plans

7:54 pm on 1 March 2011

The makers of the US television reality show, Survivor, have dropped plans to film in Vava'u in Tonga this year.

The show had been expected to generate more than five million US dollars in economic activity.

In a letter to Tonga's prime minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, a Survivor co-producer, Leisa Francis, says they weren't able to secure the necessary logistics, such as hotel bookings.

A government spokesperson says it's a major marketing and economic blow for the country.

The government has been offering incentives and concessions to try and keep the programme makers in Tonga.

It had also passed legislation to meet their special requirements and had set up a Cabinet sub-committee to oversee the project.