Australia Samoa Newspaper May 2016 | Page 10

10 Australia Samoa Newspaper 02 May 2016 2016 is the year to ‘Visit Samoa’ ‘VISIT SAMOA 2016’ CAMPAIGN: Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Fatialofa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi launches the ‘Visit Samoa 2016’ campaign and the ‘Samoa Tourism Excellence Awards’ which will be held on January 7 2017. V isit Samoa 2016 has been launched as part of a special event to also welcome the new year. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Samoa Tourism Authority hosted the event at the SIGFA Fishing House at the Samoa Ports Marina in the beginning of the year. Susuga Tuilaepa, in his keynote address, said that the tourism industry’s impact on the economic and social development of Samoa is significant. “Tonight is about thanking and celebrating the tourism industry and stakeholders, including our own development partners for the work and progress in the development of sustainable tourism,” he said. “Tourism is the mainstay of our economy and we have selected to continue pioneering sustainable tourism, as we have stated in our tourism sector plan and vision that by 2019 Samoa will have a growing tourism sector. “Today, as we lift our glasses to toast the New Year and the beginning of the Visit Samoa Year 2016, we recall our commitment to develop our country into a place that we are proud to call home, and a place that tourists and citizens can enjoy for work or holiday, in peace and harmony.” The Prime Minister also shared his gratitude for national efforts towards the development of tourism. “It is also on this occasion that we thank the whole of Samoa watching this broadcast, for the endless support that our country had attended, to the hosting of international conferences and events, and of which international reputable guests had thanked Samoa for the efficient coordination of services,” said Tuilaepa. “These are the working characteristics of our country that we pray will continue in the cohesive coordination of tourism development activities on our shores. “This is our country that tourists continue to call ‘Beautiful Samoa’. “Let us continue to build a Samoa that makes all Samoans proud to call home, and a place that our people abroad can proudly belong, and that our development partners will want to affiliate with, and in our humility thank God for the blessings upon Samoa and for the nations and organizations who continue to help us through financial and technical support.” The Prime Minister said the Visit Samoa 2016 is a celebration of Samoa becoming a Five Star destination with the opening of the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel and Bungalows, and the Taumeasina Island Resort. Tuilaepa said it also gives rise to the introduction of the first ever survey for the inaugural Samoa Tourism Excellence Awards, for tourism businesses which will be measure and judged by visiting tourists and the Tourism Standards Committee. PM opens successful Tourism Forum 2016 ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE: Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Fatialofa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi with participants at the Samoa Tourism Forum at the Samoa Conference Center at the TATTE Building in Apia. P rime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi launched the Samoa Annual Tourism Forum at the Samoa Conference Center at the TATTE Building on Wednesday, 9th March 2016. Designed to give tourism business operators and the wider tourism sector a clear understanding of some of the key issues which shape Samoa’s tourism development, the two-day forum was well attended. “Tourism is important for our economic structure, preservation of our prestige culture and the sustaining of our pristine environment,” Tuilaepa said. “We are determined to position our destination at a level of excellence to ensure that we reach international standards.” Tuilaepa said there are exciting developments in the pipeline for the industry this year, in terms of properties. “We have made progress through the establishment of three first class accommodations such as the Sheraton Aggie Grey’s Resort; the soon to be opened Sheraton Aggie Greys Hotel and Bungalows; and the Taumeasina Island Resort which will be opening in the next couple of months. “Samoa is planning on being a tourism destination with international key marginal segments that also include sports tourism and with a creative entertainment arts ulterior.” Tuilaepa, who is also the Minister of Tourism, said the Forum is important for the sector. “Our tourism goal is ‘Achieving Excellence’ and is a theme that applies to all of us who wish to ensure greater outcomes,” he said. “I wish to see us all working together to ensure an improved quality of life for all. The two-day conference will allow the tourism sector to receive the best advice that will prompt the achievement of excellence and depths. “This will also help to achieve the vision of the Samoa tourism sector plan 2014 to 2019 in which I quote that ‘by 2019 Samoa will have a growing tourism sector which in 3 years our business and people will be recog- nized as the leading pacific destination for sustainable tourism’.”