APIA (Samoa Observer/Pacnews) — Samoa was declared the winner of the “Emerging Island Holiday Destination” award by the National Tourism Magazine in China, held earlier this month.
According to the Samoa Tourism Authority or STA, this accolade was a testament to the dedication and hard work invested by the STA and the tourism sector in promoting Samoa as a premier travel destination within the Asia and Chinese markets.
STA Sales and Marketing Manager Losa Maia’i Wallwork said the timing of this award was particularly significant, as teams in Samoa and China have been diligently working to enhance promotional activities and increase visibility.
“We have a series of initiatives planned, including trade and media familiarization trips aimed to further solidify our presence in the region,” she said.
“These efforts are designed to ensure that Samoa remains a top-of-mind destination for travelers across China and Asia. Just recently, we’ve hosted six travel agents from across China for this year’s Samoa Tourism Exchange, part of our ongoing marketing activities.
“I want to thank our team in China for their hard work in ensuring that people in China and Asia are always aware of Samoa and its tourism offerings.”
While current statistics indicate that the China and Asia market contributes only 6% of total arrivals to Samoa — a figure that remains relatively low due to various factors, including limited flights — the recent award underscores the potential for growth in this segment, said STA.
“It is a clear signal that despite Samoa’s geographic challenges, there is confidence and optimism for future tourism expansion,” said STA.
STA said it was excited about the possibilities ahead and looked forward to leveraging this award to foster greater interest in Samoa as a desirable destination for travelers in the coming years.
