BEAUTIFUL SAMOA WELCOMES TRAVEL BUBBLE DEVELOPMENT

We are encouraged by the announcement that a quarantine-free travel arrangement will commence between Australia and New Zealand on April 19. This comes following the news that a two-way travel bubble between New Zealand and our Pacific Island neighbours, the Cook Islands, is slated for May.

Samoa Tourism welcomes the announcement as yet another important precursor to a broader Pacific travel bubble, which will restart tourism and allow a number of Pacific Islands, including Samoa, to rebuild and accelerate its economic recovery. The establishment of a trans-Tasman travel bubble inspires confidence among Pacific tourism operators that a Pacific travel bubble is also inevitable.

The health and safety of our local Samoan aiga (family), along with Australian and New Zealand travellers, remains our highest priority. We are confident that with vaccinations being rolled out, alongside the introduction of increased procedures - including contact tracing and regular testing - a strong framework has been developed.

As the original social distant friendly destination, with no COVID-19 community transmissions, Samoa's untouched beauty and authentic nature is the perfect place for Australians and New Zealanders to feel a world away, without venturing far from the safety of their doorstep once the travel bubble has been established. 

The establishment of a Pacific travel bubble will provide crucial mutual benefits for all Pacific nations, as well as Australia and New Zealand, in rebounding from the economic challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

We are looking forward to rebuilding the strong cultural connections between Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand, and welcoming visitors to our shores once again when it is safe to do so.