Otago Daily Times

Samoa reopening to internatio­nal tourists

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APIA: Samoa will reopen to internatio­nal tourists again today, 865 days after closing borders due to Covid19.

For Western Australian Tuitaga Nathan Bucknall, the manager of the Taumeasina Island Resort near Apia, it is day that has been a long time coming.

‘‘We were the first to close and the last to open,’’ he said.

‘‘But it’s here. And we’re ready. It’s time.’’

It seems many agree, with the limited number of flights heading to Apia’s internatio­nal airports running close to capacity for weeks to come.

New Zealand is the biggest tourist market for Samoa, but there is not a single seat available on one of Air New Zealand’s four weekly flights until August 23, with a oneway ticket starting at the pricely sum of $1083.

Australian­s looking to head to the Pacific paradise will also need to pay through the nose on Qantas, or via Fiji.

The first flights may be full to the brim, but they’re not bringing tourists, Mr Bucknall, an Apia local for seven years, said.

‘‘Samoans are really family oriented. It’s Samoans coming home because they’re missing their families,’’

The Pacific nation has about 200,000 residents, but a huge diaspora overseas.

The first flight to land at Faleolo Internatio­nal Airport will be a New Zealand Defence Force Boeing, carrying Kiwi Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and an entourage of politician­s, staff, community leaders and media.

The New Zealand delegation is making a twoday trip on the invitation of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, celebratin­g 60 years of Samoan independen­ce.

Bucknell said the resort was looking slightly jaded.

‘‘She’s a little bit tired after two years of being almost shut down.

‘‘We traded through, changing it all up for domestic tourists.

‘‘To do that, we decreased our rate, but we also decreased our staffing and the offering. We had to find a way to keep paying the bills

to keep 50% of our staff in work.’’

Samoa Tourism is also whirring back into life, with a new advertisin­g campaign fronted by NRL star turned social media sensation Johnny TuivasaShe­ck, with the slogan ‘‘Beautiful is Back’’.

Prior to the pandemic, tourism increased to contribute roughly a quarter of Samoa’s GDP.

Samoa is not quite the last Pacific nation to pull up the drawbridge, but it is following Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Cook Islands — all competitio­n for the tourist dollar.

Samoa Airports chief Silimana’i Ueta Solomona jun said he was feeling ‘‘excitement and joy’’ about the border reopening.

‘‘After two years and five months of border restrictio­ns we are delighted to be welcoming our guests back into Samoa,’’ he said.

Bucknall said the public mood had shifted from anxiety at the threat of Covid19.

‘‘I don’t think there’s a lot of discontent . . . the vaccine rollout has been excellent, we’re up over 98% doublevaxx­ed.

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