travel

Western Samoa: 'Least

Unspoiled' Of The

Polynesian Islands

A Regular Rim Department

Reporting News Of South

Seas Tourism And Travel

From The Inside

From R. F. Rankin, in Apia Although as the least unspoiled of all the Polynesian islands Western Samoa has much to offer the tourist, up to a year ago travel agents and hotel proprietors despaired that tourism here would ever be developed into a major industry.

HITH rising imports and falling » exports compounding the newly lependent country’s financial pro mis, Samoa’s politicians have ally realised that tourism provides lucrative and relatively painless ernative source of revenue. Thus j tourist picture has now com edy changed.

The Government has this year r en top priority in its development ms to the promotion of tourism, ms for a high class tourist hotel a hundred rooms are in the iking; Western Samoa is to be edly join the Pacific Area Travel sociation; and funds have been led to conduct a visitor destination a study on the islands of Upolu J Savaii.

Antiquated Entry Laws

When the programme really gets Jer way, and when antiquated mi gration laws requiring entry per ts are revised to allow entry on [session of a return ticket, tourism going to become big business, ten that happens visitors should 1 little to complain of in the way facilities, service, sightseeing, nfort and pleasure. n the meantime, however, while no means a luxury resort, Samoa i provide an unforgettable and itively inexpensive holiday for visitor interested in Polynesian ture, or in exploring a genuine ith Seas island with some of the st tropical scenery and beaches be found.

Vhat is the situation at the ment?

'lean and comfortable accom dation in Apia provides no blem. In nine cases out of 10 the room Casino Hotel can put up isitor without prior notice. Here » vary from £2/2/- to £3/15/person a day.

"he bulk of the tourist trade /ever, goes to Aggie Grey’s Hotel

and here booking is advisable. Aggie has 21 cottages with rates ranging from £5 single (air conditioned) to £3 shared. She also has eight single rooms at £2/16/- and 10 double rooms at £5/5/- double.

At both hotels meals are included in the tariff.

Because of the steady increase of visitors since 1960 and in view of promotional plans of the future, Aggie has eight new cottages under construction and expected to be completed late July. She hopes to add another eight units next year.

Restrictive liquor regulations under which a few years ago a visitor found it difficult to get a drink have been relaxed and this presents no problem to hotel guests nowadays.

Both hotels are close to the shop ping centre and taxis are readily

available, charging 2/- for a short run.

Shopping in Apia is good, with the main stores carrying products from all over the world, and there are some interesting Chinese goods available in some smaller stores.

Samoan curios are available from street-side vendors and some stores, and for the music lover Samoan songs, recorded in Samoa and not available elsewhere, are on sale.

Visiting sportsmen have no trouble arranging a game of golf or tennis and there is good swimming in the lagoon at Vaiala and Mulinu’u and in front of the Casino. Also at Vaiala are acres of coral to be ex plored at low tide, and Palolo Deep where one can spend hours looking through goggles at the wonderfully

flourful underwater world of the opics.

About five miles out of town, at aulii, is one of the finest sandy id safe surf beaches on the island.

With plenty to amuse a tourist left ► his own devices there are also a imber of organised tours available late model American taxis of the old Star Travel Bureau.

These are: • APIA TOUR —A drive through e suburbs of Apia, passing Apia irk and Samoa College before aching the gates of Vailima, the rmer home of Robert Louis eyenson. On the return trip to pia a stop is made at Mulinu’u, storical burial ground of chiefs d site of Parliament House.

• Stevenson’S Tomb Tour

•a special trip to the tomb of )bert Louis Stevenson atop Mount lea overlooking Apia. The trip solves a good 20-minute climb and generally made early in the morning len conditions are cool and when ►itors can also see a tropical sun e over Apia.

• Falefa Falls Tour —A

-mile drive along the East Coast th crashing surf of the Pacific on e side and picturesque Samoan lages on the other. A stop is ide at the Falls to allow visitors take photographs and admire the jnery.

• Plantations Tour An

cresting tour through Western moa Trust Estates Corporation -pa and coconut plantations, sitors see how Samoa’s main Dorts are grown, harvested and icessed.

• Lefaga Village Tour—

-30-mile drive to one of the most mtiful Samoan villages, where in 52 Return to Paradise, starring ry Cooper, was filmed. A stop is de at Lefaga beach, which pro es a perfect setting for a picnic ich and swim.

• West Coast Tour—A 20-

ie drive along the West Coast pass- Samoan villages beside quiet oons, past Faleolo airport and ning around at Mulifanua Planta i (the largest coconut plantation the South Pacific), i ALEIPATA TOUR Aleipata at the eastern tip of Upolu and > 40-mile drive passes through noan villages and over the untainous Mafa Pass, with ■nendous views of rugged inland ;h before reaching South Coast

villages. The Aleipata tour is an ideal picnic trip with good beaches for swimming.

At extra cost a Gold Star re presentative will meet visitors in a special car at the wharf or airport; assist them through Customs and immigration, supply a fresh flower lei and accompany them to their hotel.

Native feasts and island dancing can also be arranged for group tours if requested in advance.

Aerial Crossroads

Entry permits into Western Samoa can be arranged by Gold Star for group tours and individuals who are booked through a travel agency and who are doing sightseeing tours with Gold Star.

A major selling point for Western Samoa as a centre of tourism is that through Polynesian Airlines, based in Apia, the traveller can, for a relatively low cost, visit many other Pacific Islands not normally in cluded in passenger itineraries.

Polynesian Airlines now has two DCS aircraft and they operate services from Apia to Pago Pago, Aitutaki and Rarotonga, Tonga, and Fiji.

Convenient connections have been arranged between Apia and Pago Pago to connect with all international services through American Samoa.

For a return fare of £9/10/- a passenger on an international flight can break his journey at Pago to see the attractions of Western Samoa.

Polynesian operates weekly services to Aitutaki and Rarotonga

aving Apia each Thursday to turn the following day. The turn fare for the 700 mile trip is '3/4/-. The standard of accom odation in Rarotonga has improved, though reservations need to be made dl in advance.

A weekly service is also operated Nadi in Fiji where there are con ctions with international airlines all major cities of the world. On is route the aircraft flies over nost the complete length of the ji group, giving photographers iple opportunity to snap the lourful reefs below. Return fare £42/15/-.

Fly To Tonga

Color camera enthusiasts would 0 welcome the trip by Polynesian >m Apia to Tonga which is leduled every second Sunday. At LSt a third of this flight is over a ing of atolls and colourful islands ding to Nukualofa, giving what claimed to be the best panorama the South Sea islands that it is ssible to find. Connections from nga to Fiji are available so that >sengers can do the round trip m Fiji to Western Samoa to Tonga 1 back to Fiji. The return fare m Apia to Tonga is £3B.

While committed to the develop nt of tourism, Samoa is equally ermined to retain the Samoan y of life with its unique customs 1 traditions. Samoans don’t relish idea of becoming a lot of nkeys in a cage, exciting the iosity of visiting foreigners, f the visitor remembers this and prepared to meet the Samoan on equal basis a stay in this country i be exceedingly enjoyable, fruit and memorable.