Samoa Tourism: “Still Has So Much To Offer” ; Tsunami Destruction Confined to South Coast Upolu Samoa

We’ve focused, for good reason, on the tragedy in Samoa and the loss of lives. It’s been very difficult for many of us to comprehend the devastation and focus on much else at the moment. It’s as though our thoughts have frozen in time. Now, a week later, I think of the people in Samoa who must now struggle to make sense of their lives. Some will fare well. Others won’t. One thing I want to talk about here,  Samoa Tourism which is the economic lifeblood of Samoa.

While the earthquake was felt through the islands of Samoa, the tsunami and its destruction was localised to the South Coast of Upolu, Samoa. So the rest of the island, as far as tourist resorts and beach fales,  it’s business as usual. We hope that if you have been a tourist to Samoa that you will return again and enjoy the hospitality of the people of Samoa. The loss of lives is confined to the South Coast villages along the coastline. Resorts and beach fales located in other parts of Samoa such as Apia, Savaii and elsewhere,  island paradise is still visible.

Minister of Tourism Misa Telefoni says Samoa Tourism is preparing a strong message that “Samoa still has so much more to offer our visitors whose custom we value and whose patronage we consider a special privilege and honour.”

He cites the following figures from the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA):

We still have 5 out of 7 deluxe hotels available – 326 Rooms and 854 beds.

We still have 5 out of 7 superior Resorts available – 135 Rooms and 314 beds

We still have 22 out of 24 standard hotels available – 315 Rooms and 759 Beds

We still have 27 out of 29 Budget hotels available – 406 rooms and 864 beds

We still have 9 out of 14 Beach Fales available (Overnight stays) or 144 rooms and 348 beds.

We still have 8 out of 17 Beach Fales available (Day Stays) or 51 rooms.

There is concern among the locals and Government that tourists might abandon Samoa as a holiday destination given last week’s tragedy. If that happens, it will also cause even more suffering for the people of Samoa, particularly those families who have relied on tourism as a way to support their families.

Sinalei Resort owner Joe Annandale (L), who lost his wife Tui during the disaster, describes the tsunami wave to the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (R) at the Sinalei Resort near the village of Maninoa.

[picapp src=”a/e/b/e/John_Key_Visits_2829.jpg?adImageId=4744308&imageId=6692245″ width=”500″ height=”331″ /]

If you are reading this from Samoa, and you operate one of the resorts or fales that is still operating in Samoa, please post a comment and let our readers know.