the tourist dollar

W. Samoa sets out to woo the tourist dollar

By a staff writer

The independent State of Western Samoa, after a lot of self-analysis, has finally taken a lead in claiming a share of the growing South Pacific tourist market—and done it in such a way that it is likely to keep its friends in the area.

has organised a “Heart of 5 Polynesia” tourist conference to >egin in Apia on May 29. The conerence is designed to find ways and neans of attracting visitors into what he organisers describe as the Polynesian triangle”—Western and kmerican Samoa, and Tonga.

Specialist speakers will talk on such übjects as visitor development for he area, promotion, the Governnent’s role in tourism, and transport md hotel problems. Conference hairman is Mr. G. F. D. Betham, Vestern Samoa’s Minister for "inance and Economic Development.

Travel people and publicists have >een flooded with publicity and irochures about the triangle in , e< r ent including 3 letter fro™ ’rime Minister Fiame Mataafa, which ays there is little question that Central Polynesia will become a najor visitor destination area” and hat the May conference has been lesigned to focus attention on islands vhich offer visitors “the opportunity o participate in an authentic Polylesian culture”.

This approach is obviously deiigned to weld the three territories ogether as one handy tourist unit md better enable them to compete vith Tahiti, which most people con-

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sider to be “the only authentic Poly nesia”—thanks to the years of brain washing by promoters. And the terri tory will also compete with Fiji, which has built an image as “the crossroads of the Pacific”, The “Heart of Polynesia” image will build up the local people as the “purest surviving Polynesian type, conservative and unspoiled”.

Publicity is already claiming that majority of Samoans live their j- yes j n “ t jj e traditional native fashion almost entirely unaffected by contact with another civilisation”, , . .. W l ster " S j*T a has T de " u self the spearhead of the new drive because * he "° u " try ™ stearn , more money ' And 11 a,ready has a P rett V impressive ‘"crease in travellers, Recent tourism figures released by the Director of Economic Develop ment, Mr. A. Gerakas (who is secre tary of the tourist conference) show that: • The number of tourists visiting Apia last year rose by 47 per cent.

• Nearly 13,000 tourists will prob ably spend about £NZ2OO,OOO in 1967. • An enigmatic fact about the type of tourist visiting Western Samoa is. that his or her average age is 37, lower than for other areas.

Other signs of tourist development are: Following completion in 1966, liners can now tie up at Apia’s deep water wharf. When the Oriental Queen and the Queen Frederica called recently they brought over 1,300 cruise passengers in a week. The Sit mar Line, and P and O will include Apia in cruises this year and next year.

The Western Samoa Hotel Com pany Ltd., has been formed to de velop hotel facilities. The govern ment has invested £NZ6O,OOO in the scheme. The first step will be the expansion of the State’s oldest hotel, the Hotel Casino. A minimum of 35 air-conditioned rooms will be added to the present building.

Aggie Grey’s Hotel, Western Samoa’s biggest, is being enlarged.

Hawaii travel experts who made a two-week tour of Western Samoa in late 1965 predicted a 120 per cent, increase in visitors over the next five years and recommended building a SUS 1,600,000 tourist hotel in the Lefatu area, eight miles from Faleolo airport.

No decision has been made on this proposal since then but the May

Prime Minister Mataafa

A feature of Western Samoa's Inde pendence celebrations each year is horse-racing, which has much in common with country meetings in Australia or New Zealand.

Photo: "Samoana".

meeting is certain to discuss the hotel! again.

One of the experts, Mr. W. Collins*, said in 1965 Western Samoa had ae big advantage over Fiji, where plan ning was not in evidence, to planr proper resort areas and facilities fon tourists.

The May conference is being held! on the eve of celebrations fon Samoa’s fifth anniversary of indepen dence, and large numbers of visitorsg are expected for this.

Independence was attained onr January 1, 1962, and for three daysg every year since Western Samoa hasa celebrated in June because thes weather is better.

Western Samoa was a Germanr colony and then a League of Nations mandated territory administered by\ New Zealand and, finally a UNI trusteeship territory, also administered! by NZ.

The first day’s celebrations aree marked by big marches and in Apia, bands play, speeches aref delivered and the Prime Minister! raises the flag. The spectacular! fautasi (longboat) race takes places the second day and thousands crowd! the foreshores to watch. A smaller! boat race, the tutulas, follows withr all-female crews.

Hotel tariffs

Horseracing, athletics, weightlifting,, tug-o-war, volleyball are on the final I day in Apia Park.

For visitors planning to go to< Western Samoa for this year’s cele brations, June 1-3 (and it is a worth while excuse) here is a quick run down of facilities: Aggie Grey’s Hotel by May will I have 90 rooms, two-thirds of which i are air-conditioned and 25 have i private baths and hot water. Aggie’s < is known for its home-like hospitality \ and the friendliness of the owner and I hostess, Aggie Grey, who is some- ■ thing of a tourist attraction herself! !

Tariffs range from SUSIO for a j single room, SUSI 6 a double room, . and SUS 17.50 for single air- • conditioned rooms and 5U526.50 for • double air-conditioned rooms. These : prices are daily rates and include all 1 meals plus afternoon tea.

The Casino Hotel was built in i 1911 by a German firm and is found i on the western side of Apia.

It has 30 rooms and 35 air- ■ conditioned rooms are being added I under the Hotel Company scheme : mentioned earlier. There is no hot :

ater in each room but hot water is /affable in community shower )oms.

Tariffs are single rooms, SUS 7; ?üble rooms, SUSI 4; single rooms ith private showers, SUSIO; double K>ms with private shower, SUS2O; If-contained cottages are available om SUS 9 for single and SUS2O ir double rooms.

Two big travel agencies operate in r estern Samoa —Retzlaffs’ Tour and ravel Services Ltd., and the Gold ar Travel Bureau.

Retzlaffs’ offer four local tours— ie east coast of Upolu, to colleges id plantations, the west coast of polu to Mulifanua and a boat trip • Savaii.

Gold Star provides tours around polu with its own cars and drivers; tese include Stevenson’s tomb, alefa Falls and Falelatai village.

A fully-equipped motor-powered ihing boat is available for hire to g-game fishing enthusiasts. Cost: US4S a run.

Apia’s airport, while unable to andle the big jet airliners of trans acific carriers, receives regular fights / Western Samoa’s airline, Poly- Airlines, with DC3s and twice eekly visits from Fiji Airways from iva with Herons.

Polynesian Airlines connects Apia lily with Pago Pago in American imoa where travellers can pick up PanAm jet which will take them > the US or Australia. The Western imoan airline also runs to Tonga on mdays (and returns Mondays) and • Nadi, Fiji, on Mondays, Wednes lys and Fridays. The Wednesday ght is via Wallis Island.

For people coming to Western imoa for three days or less no -rmit or visa is needed, but a pass 3rt is. Those wishing to stay for longer period must obtain a visa r permit to enter through the con ilar offices of the Governments of ew Zealand or Britain.