26 Jan 2010

American Samoa Visitors Bureau works to double cruiseship visits

11:06 am on 26 January 2010

The American Samoa Visitors Bureau is working to double the number of cruiseships visiting the Territory.

The Bureau's chief executive officer, David Vaeafe, says next month he will attend a cruiseship convention in the U.S. to boost the territory's profile.

He says he also expects to attend tourism shows in New Zealand and Australia.

The first cruise ship for 2010 to the territory is a Japanese cruise liner the Pacific Venues which is scheduled to arrive February 3.

"Last year we had ten cruiseships. This year we're expecting nine with the first ship expected to arrive so we are looking at potentially doubling that in the future to have at least twenty ships a year passing through Pago Pago harbour."

David Vaeafe says the Bureau is also focussing this year on developing lucrative travel packages with travel wholesalers.

The bureau has joined the Pacific Area Travel Association or PATA the main regional tourism organization for the Asia-Pacific region.