travel

New US Law Should Help Samoan Tourism

A new law for United States

avellers, to operate from

ctober 1, will affect the South acific tourist industry. For the merican Territory of Samoa the w will mean increased tourist jsiness—but for other areas it >uld mean less income.

IHE new law relates to duty. It - was passed by Congress in July.

A US traveller returning from rerseas after October 1 will be lowed to bring in to the State only 00 worth of purchases, computed retail value, and only one quart liquor.

The law, which was introduced to Ip keep American dollars at home, ics not apply to American travellers turning from American Samoa, □am, the US Trust Territory of the icific Islands, and the Virgin lands.

Travellers from these areas will 11 be allowed five bottles of tax ;e liquor and $2OO in tax-free irchases. At least $lOO of the tax ;e purchases will have to be mght in those American territories.

American Samoa is especially eased with the new law, as the rritory is on the threshold of a urist drive. A big new hotel opens Pago at the end of the year, and moa hopes to get an influx of urists as a result of new aviation hedules in the South Seas following e opening of the Mangere Inter itional airport, Auckland, soon.

Pago, which has a first class jet rport, is being built up by the mericans as a key transportation ik in the South Pacific, and as an iportant tourist port.

Unofficial reports from Pago dicate that when Mangere is open igo will receive three aircraft a ;ek —two from Honolulu through igo Pago to Sydney and one from onolulu through Pago to Auckland, lere will also be a new service mnecting Pago with Tahiti—and is should be a most valuable link r the tourist trade.