
Dr. Doug Fenner, a globally recognized coral reef researcher told a meeting of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce yesterday that, “American Samoa’s coral reefs are world class quality.”
He added that study travel colleges and university customers “are more than willing to come to American Samoa at any cost for a world class environmental and cultural learning experience”.
Scott Burch, Superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa echoed the sentiment saying, “The park already brings in one million dollars a year to American Samoa. The National Park Service however has no money for marketing.”
A press release from the Chamber said 55 people poured into Sadies By The Sea’s Goat Island conference room yesterday erasing any previous single Chamber meeting attendance record.
Seven government agencies were represented, including Manu’a District Governor Laolagi Vaeao and ASCC President, Dr. Rosevonne Pato.
Aumua Amata’s Field Office Director Pulu Ae Ae Jr. was also in attendance.
A group of Samoana high school student livened the afternoon with a barrage of questions.
Chamber Chairman John Wasko, said “the large crowd indicated the public and private sector interest in building new industries that generate new, off island money for American Samoa.”.
He added that, students were seeking options of, “ how they will find stateside level salaries without leaving their home or families.”
Wasko made it clear that the chamber is prepared to step in as a business development partner with ASG and National Park Service . He noted that college and university Environmental Study Travel is a $32 billion dollar industry. “We will build the business model that will bring visiting students to American Samoa and put people here to work.”
A planned video conference with Dr. Richard Page, Study Travel Advisor at Ocean University in Qing Dao China failed because the internet service provider could not provide a sufficient bandwidth connection speed rate.
“We expect bumps,” Wasko concluded. “ There is still a lot of work to do.”
The luncheon meeting was sponsored by General Manager Gary Walter and Harbor Maritime Services.
Photo: National Park Service