Bulk of Samoa’s Tourism Budget Goes to Marketing

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The Samoa Government’s proposed budget for Financial Year 2017-2018, allocates $ST11.4 million to the Samoa Tourism Authority for planned activities which includes the marketing and promotion of Samoa as a tourist destination.

$ST2.0 million is earmarked for the marketing of Samoa in the New Zealand and Australian markets which have the greatest potential for increased tourists to visit Samoa as well as easy airline connections to Samoa.

Finance Minister Sili Epa Tuioti says the more tourists that visit Samoa means good business for hotels, provide the much needed employment opportunities as well as providing a market for local produce and handicrafts.

The New Zealand Government is to work with the Samoa Tourism Authority in promoting Samoa in NZ and Australia and will contribute $ST4.5 m in 2017/18 to assist with that work.

The Apia Waterfront Development project is expected to begin construction next year and the New Zealand government is contributing $3.56 m towards that project.

New Zealand is the leading source of tourists to Samoa followed by Australia and then American Samoa.

The proposed budget for the Samoa Government with a population of 160,000 totals $ST934.2 million.

Local revenues would bring in $ST614.9 million while $ST237.4 would come from external grants.

A deficit of $ST81.9m would be financed by Soft Term Financing -$ST90.3m and Credit Budget Support- $12.9m.

The budget would have a cash surplus after borrowing of $ST21.3m.

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