28 May 2023 Apia Samoa. There were more than 200 tourists on the inaugural direct commercial flight from China to Samoa which landed at Faleolo International Airport at around 7pm Sunday 28 May 2023.
Please Keep Samoa Clean.
Samoa’s Minister of Tourism Hon Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster confirms the first direct flight from China to Samoa is a “full 787 dreamliner aircraft” operated by Hainan Airlines.
The Minister calls for Samoa to put on a display of Pacific hospitality for the tourists.
“Let’s show this new tourist market our #beautifulsamoa hospitality”.
The direct flight has originated from the Haikou Meilan International Airport and is bringinging in close to 250 passengers.
The group is made up of mainly business people from China, according to a media release.
“This is a major achievement that has been 10 years in the making and includes the signing of the Air Rights Agreement between Samoa and China in 2015.”
“This is the first in a series of charter flights confirmed over the coming months in a collaboration between Hong Kong based Travel Focus and the Samoan iconic Aggie Greys Hotel that aims to provide a bridge for tourism, trade and exports between the two countries.”
Declared Fastest Network for 3 years running.
The weekly flights reportedly booked out for the next month is expected to boost to the local tourism industry with nine hotels around Apia hosting the incoming guests.
The flights will continue in the lead-up to upcoming international conferences such as the Heads of the Commonwealth Governments (CHOGM) Meeting in October 2024.
The guests on these direct flights will stay in Samoa for eight days before they return on the next flight that brings in another group of tourists next week.
Samoa is the Home of Taula.
The return flights from Faleolo to Haikou Meilan International Airport presents a unique opportunity not only for direct travel from Apia to mainland China but also for Samoan export pproducts to access the vast Chinese market.
A full programme has been laid out for the Chinese tourists that will include visits to iconic sites of historic and cultural significance.
A visit to Samoa is not complete if one does not visit the Big Island, so a one day tour of Savaii Island is said to be included in the itinerary.
