The Tongan government says it will be paying Forbes magazine US$130,000 this week in return for what it says is unprecedented coverage.
Photo: Tonga Parliament
There has been confusion over a deal involving an interview the business magazine conducted with Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva shortly after he was elected.
The Finance Minister 'Aisake Eke says the resulting two page advertorial will reach up to seven million people through the magazine.
Dr Eke says it has been included in the June edition, the 2015 Investment Guide, and will also feature online for over a year and will be translated into Chinese.
He says the project is worth it even though it costs around a quarter of the budget available for marketing tourism.
"What we are looking here is the opportunity to get a lot of people world-wide. This is a very high profile magazine not only for potential tourists but also for investors so I think this is unique. I think this is what this special magazine offers, which I think is more than what we have been normally promoting from and for."
