A new and easy way to earn commission on tours in Samoa has been launched this month.

Samoa Tours is a natural progression from Hawaii Tours – a call centre set up in Apia to help sell the US State.

The strength of Samoa’s bounce-back post Covid has pleasantly surprised the tourism sector in the destination, with arrival figures already back to and sometimes topping 2019-20 numbers.

The country is this week hosting the first Samoa Tourism Exchange (STE 2023) for three years, with some 35 exhibitors and 55 plus international buyers and media (including a delegation of 12 from New Zealand) taking part.

Saletoga Sands Resort in Samoa will be adding an adults-only area due to demand from that sector, with construction starting later this year. Owner Gavin Brightwell says the resort has always been family friendly and will keep that side of the business. ‘The family market has made this resort successful,’ he says. However, the dedicated adults area, with approximately 18 newbuild rooms, will add a new aspect to the property. ‘They will all have sea views and there will be a grove of coconut trees with a wide pathway. ‘We are just keeping up with trends, so couples can enjoy all the facilities of Saletoga but also have a quieter area to themselves.’

A significant revamp to samoa.travel is set to be revealed late July, with the destination’s new agents specialist programme to be officially launched two or three months later.

Sa’Moana Beach Bungalows Resort on Upolu Island in Samoa is tapping into a niche fitness market that hasn’t yet been explored in the South Pacific, while also giving back to its local village. The resort’s new boxing fitness programme, ‘Underwraps’, will run in conjunction with New Zealand based boxing businesses, kicking off with a soft start initially and eventually catering to both amateurs and pros.

By Ruth Scott 
Could the skies above New Zealand once again see the colours of Polynesian Airlines?
This was a question up for discussion at the Samoa Tourism Exchange (STE) held this week in Apia, and it comes at a time a 10-year joint venture (JV) deal between the government of Samoa and Virgin Australia is up