SAMOA: New Zealand Funding Beautiful Samoa tourism

The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority(STA), Papali’i Sonja Hunter has acknowledged the announcement by the New Zealand Government of funding to boost the Pacific Island nation’s tourism industry.

The New Zealand Government is to contribute NZ$7.3 million towards boosting Samoan tourism.

The announcement was made by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Leuluaialiiotumua Bill English in the beginning of this month, while he was in Samoa to mark the country’s 55th Independence celebrations.

Papali’i upon receiving this good news is very grateful for the assistance.

We acknowledge with great gratitude and thank Leuluaialiiotumua Bill English and the New Zealand Government for the announcement of this great assistance for our country. Said Papali’i.

2017 has been earmarked by the United Nations as the year for Sustainable Tourism, and our efforts over the years have been towards achieving the vision that by 2019, Samoa will have a growing tourism sector which engages our visitors and people and is recognised as the leading Pacific destination for sustainable tourism.

Rt Hon. Bill English who was bestowed his Chiefly title of Leuluaialiiotumua from his wife’s family in the village of Faleula, said that New Zealand and Samoa have deep and extensive ties and helping Samoa to develop its tourism industry is a way to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

Increasing tourism will increase economic growth and improve livelihoods in Samoa. Said Mr English

Increasing Samoa’s attractiveness as a tourist destination will create jobs and business opportunities, and connect communities and visitors with Samoan heritage and culture.

Samoa has an enormous amount to offer international visitors, and New Zealand wants to help the tourism sector grow.

The funding will be used to promote Samoa as a tourist destination, provide additional training to tourism workers,and upgrade tourism sites and attractions on the main islands of Savai’i and Upolu.

This newly announced funding will supplement work to upgrade the Apia waterfront.

New Zealand’s support will also help redevelop the Savalalo Market, revamp the central Apia event space, and build a clock-tower boulevard.

Furthermore, a seaside lookout and pedestrian boardwalks will improve access and flow to the foreshore.

SAMOA: New Zealand Contributes $US5.15 Million Dollars To Boost Tourism In Samoa.

The New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English, who is in Samoa for its 55th anniversary of independence, said helping to develop the tourism industry was a way to strengthen the bond between the countries.

He said enhancing tourism would increase economic growth and improve livelihoods in Samoa.

The funding will supplement work to upgrade the Apia waterfront, help redevelop the Savalalo Market, revamp the central Apia event space and build a clock-tower boulevard.

Mr English said Samoa had an enormous amount to offer international visitors.

Samoa's Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, is confident his government can build a resilient economy and ensure the community gets the service it demands.

The minister was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday during the presentation of the new Budget.

He said the government's financial priority would continue to be in education and health.

19.3 percent of the budget goes to education and 17.3 percent to health.

Sili said the government was to ease the tax burden on lower paid workers by lifting the tax free threshold so that nearly 15,000 workers would not have to pay income tax.

The minister said the government would also support exporters with a tax deduction equal to 50 percent of the profit made on exports, if the proceeds were remitted back to Samoa.

This would halve the tax currently payable on those profits.

The budget features total spending of 934 million tala [$US 362 million]

This would be funded by local revenue of 615 million tala [$US238 million] with another 237 million tala [$US92 million] cominge from external grants.

This would leave a deficit of 82 million tala [$US32 million].

SAMOA: Apia Waterfront PLAN Almost Complete

The Honourable Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Fatialofa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also the Chairman of the Apia
Waterfront Development Project Steering Committee, has released the Draft WATERFRONT PLAN which is now into its
remaining stages before finalisation following the second and final phase of consultations at the end of last month.

“We foresee that having active and attractive places along the waterfront will draw people to the seafront.” Said Tuilaepa.

“Both locals and visitors will enjoy the natural setting of the harbour and businesses to develop new commercial opportunities all of which will further attract more tourists-and give them reasons to stay longer in Apia and Samoa, creating a new sense
of pride and ownership of the Waterfront.” Added Tuilaepa.

The Draft Waterfront Plan is a strategic document that will guide Government planning and waterfront users on future
developments along the Apia Waterfront and how it is envisaged to be transformed in the next 10 to 15 years. The key
objective of the Waterfront Plan is to enhance the remaining public spaces along Mulinu’u to Taumeasina for community use
and small commercial opportunities; places for communities to gather, play, relax, perform, work and trade.

The Vision of the Waterfront Plan is “The Apia Waterfront is an attractive destination connecting people to unique places
and Samoan experiences”. The Waterfront is similar to an ula nifo or necklace made of beads and boar teeth; the beads
represent activity nodes along the waterfront while the teeth are access points linking the Waterfront to inner Apia.

Five overarching goals have been identified to help achieve the vision of the Waterfront Plan and guide future desired
outcomes for the whole waterfront. These goals are:
i. Create a unique Samoan experience;
ii. Create an inclusive, safe and clean waterfront;
iii. Enhance public domain for community use;
iv. Support opportunities for local business initiatives; and
v. Connect people to the sea.

This second and final phase of stakeholder engagement at the end of last month was to gauge feedback on the draft plan,
particularly on proposed concept plans, strategies and policies. The Draft Plan, is in its final stages of compilation and
scheduled to be launched at the end of the year.

The Apia Waterfront Development Project is made possible with the generous financial assistance of the New Zealand
Government through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Visit website apiawaterfront@mnre.gov.ws to access the Draft Apia Waterfront Plan and for more information.