18 Oct 2007

Samoa expects NZ tourist numbers to soar

4:19 pm on 18 October 2007

Samoa's Tourism Authority says visitor numbers from New Zealand are expected to rise dramatically this year.

Its tourism marketing representative in New Zealand Fasitau Ula says last year's visitors numbered 18,000.

He says this year they are projecting visitor numbers to soar to about 20,000.

He says tourism has been helped by the South Pacific Games and with Polynesian Blue offering flights

"Firstly, it's very much affordable compared to previous years. There is a vast improvement in our accessibility support by competitive travel packages. And Samoa is politically stable and safe for visitors, who they now place an important role in their destination choice."

Fasitau Ula says Samoa is now one of the top destinations in the Pacific.