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Savaii Lagoon Resort welcomes new Owners

From managing a Travel Agent in New Zealand to operating a local beach resort in Samoa. Please meet Robyn and Grant Thornley, the new owners and managers of the Savaii Lagoon Resort who left everything they built in New Zealand to follow their dream of operating a local beach resort that they believe suits their life careers.

Samoa Tourism hosts Industry Talanoa Meets

Samoa Tourism Authority successfully hosted a series of industry sessions in an effort to help enhance Samoa’s tourism products and services earlier this month.

Tropical Tours Samoa recognised globally by Travel & Hospitality Awards

Tropical Tours was awarded the Private Tour Company in Samoa for 2023 by the Travel & Hospitality Awards, a United Kingdom-based program that globally recognizes the best hotels, tour operators, and experience providers amongst many other services within the tourism sector.

Samoa Tourism leads by example

Samoa Tourism Authority is taking the lead to ensure the issue of public littering is adequately addressed by allocating every last Friday of the month as a clean-up day to collect rubbish around Friendship Park, central Apia’s newest attraction site located behind the Government building.

Samoa hits the road across Europe to exhibit in four Trade, Media and Consumer Shows

The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) European office showcased the best of what “Beautiful Samoa” has to offer to the European markets by meeting 63,000 consumers, 73 travel trade partners and 40+ media, along with other South Pacific Islands and private sector partners.

Samoa Tourism Sector Plan 2022-2027 Launched

The Minister for Natural Resources and Environment and Tourism Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Samoa Tourism Authority and the Samoa Tourism Sector officially launched on Friday 10th February the Samoa Tourism Sector Plan 2022-2027 targeting the return of tourist arrival numbers pre-pandemic...

Pacific Islands Beauty Pageant returns to Samoa after COVID-19

The 34th Miss Pacific Islands Pageant has begun with 5 beautiful contestants from the Pacific Islands vying for the crown and the title of Miss Pacific Islands.

New Zealand support for Samoa Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program.

A Grant Funding Arrangement has been signed between the New Zealand and Samoa Governments to support the tourism industry in its post-pandemic recovery efforts.

Christmas Festivities and New Year Fireworks

The popular Christmas on the Waterfront is back again this year, with the programme set for Wednesday 21st to Friday 23rd December at the Friendship Park.

Repurposing Plastics Initiative

Samoa Tourism Authority in close partnership with the (South) Pacific Tourism Organization (PTO) under the Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative recently hosted a week-long training on Repurposing Plastics.

Samoa participates at Tourism Meetings in Cook Islands

Samoa is among several member countries of the inter-Government South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) that are meeting in person in the Cook Islands for the first time since 2019.

Samoa welcomes restart of cruise ship port calls

The Port of Apia will welcome the return of cruise ships when Westerdam and Zuiderdam from the Holland America line call in at Matautu on Tuesday 18th October and Thursday 20th October respectively.

Eased entry requirements welcomed

The lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions towards the end of September has been widely welcomed by visitors. On 22nd September, the requirement to complete a pre-departure test and show proof of vaccination were removed following the reopening of borders to international travellers on 1st August.

Savaii Palolo Festival 2022

While many across Samoa are closely monitoring the moon as part of the countdown to the first rising of the much-loved palolo which is predicted to be around 14th to 16th October, the Savaii Samoa Tourism Association (SSTA) has started month-long celebrations as part of the annual Savaii Palolo Fest.

The Feast Gospel Concert

The Afi Pasefika Trust in partnership with MH Events and Beautiful Samoa is hosting the The Feast of Tabernacles Samoa Concert during 12th -15th October.

Samoa Cultural Village Reopens

The conch shell calls and drum beats of the Samoa Cultural Village, located in the heart of the Apia CBD next to the FMFMII Government Building and adjacent to the Matagialalua Friendship Park on the Apia Waterfront, have once again come alive following its reopening in the first week of October.

Samoa removes COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travellers

Acting Prime Minister Hon. Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio announced on 22nd September the removal of the pre-departure requirement for a supervised COVID-19 RAT for travellers bound for Samoa.

Return to Paradise Resort Wins Competitions

Return to Paradise Resort is celebrating after a double win at the Independence Celebration competitions. The first was the Return to Paradise Fiafia Group which won first place in the Mauluulu competition.

Hotel bookings start to rebuild following border reopening

Optimism about forward revenue and occupancy projections trending higher is building among hotels and resorts following the reopening of borders to international travelers in August.

Samoa welcomes back cruising yachts

In the days following the official re-opening of Samoa’s borders to the world, Faleolo International Airport wasn’t the only place buzzing with the arrival of tourists and returning friends and family.

Visitors in search of authentic experiences

When Samoa officially opened its borders to international visitors on August 1st, American-Filipino traveller, Riza Rasco, was one of the first visitors who disembarked off the first flight into Samoa after an almost 3 year hiatus due to the global pandemic.

Accommodation Operators to Supervise Rapid Antigen Tests for In-house Guests

One-month on from reopening to international travellers, the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Samoa Tourism Authority have conducted a workshop for accommodation-operators to train and certify staff to directly perform supervised rapid antigen tests for in-house guests.

Tactical Campaigns with the Trade

As part of efforts to drive brand awareness, build travel trade confidence and stimulate demand, Samoa Tourism has reactivated tactical campaigns in partnership with key trade partners in New Zealand and Australia.

Friendship Park Opens, Draws Community

Apia’s newest attraction and waterfront community space, the Friendship Park at Matagialalua was officially opened by the Honourable Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa on Friday 26th August.

Samoa Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

The programme for the 60th Independence Celebration week will see a range of activities take place during 4th – 10th September. The official program commenced on Sunday 4th September with a service to officially open the celebrations followed by the choir exhibition featuring different denominations from around Samoa.



VISITOR NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

For the month of March 2020
A Samoa 234
-78.5 %
NZ 1675
-61.9 %
Australia 995
-59.9 %
USA 253
-74.2 %
Canada 10
-82.8 %
OPI 139
-60.1 %
UK 26
-89.5 %
Germany 21
-74.7 %
OEC 55
-84.0 %
Japan 16
-81.4 %
China 103
-67.8 %
OAC 409
31.1 %
Other Countries 228
-98.0 %


DATES OF INTEREST