10 Aug 2016

Lack of airlinks could scupper American Samoa hotel deal

12:04 pm on 10 August 2016

A hotelier in American Samoa is concerned that the lack of direct airlinks to the main tourism markets could scupper a new hotel development.

Pago Pago, American Samoa. Camel Rock near the village of Lauli'i.

Pago Pago, American Samoa. Camel Rock near the village of Lauli'i. Photo: Copyright: sorincolac / 123RF Stock Photo

The 250 room Rainmaker Hotel at the mouth of Pago Pago harbour is being redeveloped by New York based Destination Hotel Partners.

The deal has yet to be fully ratified.

Tom Drabble of Sadie's By the Sea said he found it difficult to understand an investment of 80 to 90 million US dollars when air transport to the territory is not locked up.

"There's a lot of other problems that need to be overcome as well but transportation is by far our biggest hurdle."

Tom Drabble.

American Samoa's largest visitor groups currently fly in from the US via Honolulu, and New Zealand and Australia after transiting through neighbouring Apia.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs