The Samoa Tourism Authority spent four days in American Samoa with a group of hoteliers and tour operators to promote travel between the two Samoas.
The initiative which comes off the back of the recent high level government to government talks between the two Samoa’s was declared a success by mission delegates and American Samoa counterparts.
The STA-led delegation spent the four-day trip promoting Samoa as a travel destination as part of the Discover Beautiful Sales Mission.
Assistant CEO and Head of Marketing for STA, Seiuli Dwayne Bentley said the initiative is part of Samoa’s efforts to actively re-engage with American Samoa and drive brand awareness.
“The mission aims to ignite interest and confidence in booking travel to Samoa,” said Seiuli.
The STA Assistant CEO highlighted that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, American Samoa was the third biggest market of visitors into Samoa.
“That’s in terms of visitor arrivals and that directly relates to financial injection into the Samoan economy,” added Seiuli.
The Sales Mission saw at least 15 delegates from Samoa who were able to make direct contact with potential clients and business partners
Besides local hotels and resorts, the trip also included representatives from Samoa Airways and the Unit Trust of Samoa.
“It was a networking opportunity with counterparts in American Samoa, and a useful platform to promote not only the destination but also products and services that Samoa has to offer,” said Seiuli.
Taumeasina Island Resort General Manager Tuiataga Nathan Bucknall was one of the senior representatives of the hotel industry on the mission.
Tuiataga said it was a timely initiative in preparation for the festive season.
“Taumeasina Island Resort already hosts the majority of travellers from American Samoa, however, it’s really important for us to be here and take time out to meet with our clientele in Tutuila and Manu’a, and to better understand how we can continue to serve them.”
The Samoa Tourism Authority have been promoting Samoa qs a destination over the past two years of lockdowns with an aggressive and modern multi media campaign telling the world that “Beautiful Samoa” would still be here when borders open.
The success of STA’s Beautiful Sanoa campaign and marketing effotts have been evident in the non-stop flow of tourists and visitors to Samoa, and flights being fully booked since borders re-opened in August.
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