11 June 2019, Apia Samoa. The new Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority Fa’amatuaina Lenatai Suifua was officially welcomed by Board of Directors, Management and staff during an ava ceremony held at the STA Fale yesterday morning.
Fa’amatuainu takes over from outgoing CEO Papalii Sonja Hunter who held the position for over 10 years and did not reapply this time around.
During his speech the new CEO said he would focus on working together, and that collaboration was needed for the success of the tourism inudstry.
“E mana’omia lava le tatou galulue fa’atasi, ma le felagolagoma’i.
“O lea o le a tatou galulue fa’atasi, o le mea pito sili lena ona taua o le galulue fa’atasi aua le atina’eina o le atunu’u.”
Speaking to the media Fa’amatuainu said that tourism is a key priority area for Samoa’s economic development so the expectations of the community are always high.
The new CEO says that he would be looking at new ways to lift the standard of tourism development to the next level and this needed to be done together with their partners, especially the business sector and the community at large.
“O le tasi lenei o atiinae o loo faapea ona faamoemoe iai le tatou tamaoaiga e talitonu foi la e tele foi le tulaga o le expectation a le atunuu.
“O loo tilotilo mai foi poo a nisi suiga fou poo a nisi vaega e faapea ona siitia atili ai e faapei foi ona faalogologo atu ai i lenei taeao.
“O le a vaavaai foi i nisi o auala e faapea ona faaleleia ai atinae o lesi tulaga ina ia faapea ona galulue faatasi ma paaga aemaise o le au fai pisinisi ma le mamalu o le atunuu.”
Faamatuainu was previously an Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) in the Samoa Tourism Authority, for the Planning and Development Division.
Married with three children, the 37 year old CEO comes from the villages of Vaisala, Moataa and Lufilufi.
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