Tourism on the island of Savaii is facing major challenges despite an influx of tourists since August last year, which boosted the tourism sector’s capability by 30 percent.
Samoa Observer reports that Savaii Samoa Tourism Association interim president, Tupai Saleimoa Vaai said that major challenges the tourism operators continue to face are labor, maintenance, and lack of investment.
In Savaii, five percent of the tourism operators, including hotels and beach fale operators, were closed during the pandemic the remainder stayed open.
“But with those who remained open, they had 50 percent capability to serve the tourists as obviously, there were some maintenance issues and some hotels could only offer a few rooms at the time,” he said.
“But now, with the increasing number of tourists coming over and overseas-based Samoans visiting families, the capability rate has increased to approximately 80 percent.”
Tupa’i acknowledged government assistance but said, it was not enough to bring operations back to what it was during the pre-pandemic era.
Meanwhile, the association is hopeful that the influx of tourists continue throughout the year for the sector to revive its normal operations, although it will take longer.
Since Samoa’s international borders reopened in August last year, Samoa Airport Authority recorded a tourist influx with over 200 passengers on a daily basis, the majority being overseas-based Samoans visiting families.
