E. Samoa

Tourists For

New Governor and PAA Are On the Job

ANEW competitor for Pacific Islands tourist traffic is about to enter the field—American Samoa, in combination with Pan American Airways.

At present, Pan American operates two trans-Pacific flights per week. Persons wishing to go to Eastern Samoa, however, must leave PAA in Nadi (Fiji); go to Apia (Western Samoa) by another airline: and cover the remaining 60 miles as best they may.

Pan American now has applied for a permit for a direct flight route to Pago Pago (East or American Samoa) which will remove the need for a break of journey in Fiji.

Tourists then may fly direct to at tractive Pago Pago from either America or Australia.

Accommodation in Eastern Samoa is limited —as yet—but the new and energetic American civfl administration is on the job. Eastern Samoa’s undoubted tourist attrac tions are to be sold, to provide re venues to take the place of those that dried up in June when the Navy establishment was removed.

A modem hotel, with all ameni ties. which overlooks Pago Pago harbour, offers accommodation at 8 dollars per day. Other houses, on the harbourside have the same tariff. The Goat Island Club, in the harbour, will take visitors at 10 dollars per day.

New buildings for visitors are planned. Are Fiji and Tahiti going to allow the Americans to steal the cream of this rich tourist traffic?

LACK of hotel accommodation has bottle-necked the tourist traf fic available for Fiji. Whites Aviation Limited, energetic Auck land organisers, have been sending New Zealand tourists regularly to Fiji this season. But, owing to the overcrowded state of the Suva hotels, the parties have been limited to about eight persons per week.

Fiji easily could provide a happy tropical holiday for 80 or 800 per week; but they all want to see Suva, and Suva cannot accommodate them.

There is plenty of capital for in vestment in Fiji; but private en terprise has been scared off by the lack of building materials and ar tisans.

However, it now looks as if American Samoa will do what British Fiji has failed to do. Per haps Samoa’s need is greater.