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# Latest News from Samoa incl Green Turtle Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Samoa
talofalava 10:17 UTC 01 May 2007 | Green Turtle Holidays & Tours Closed Indefinitely Richard Schultz, Managing Director of Green Turtle Holidays & Tours has confirmed that effective today 1st May 2007 Green Turtle will close it's doors indefinitely. All bookings and services booked and paid through Green Turtle prior closure have all been refunded to parties concerned. Mr. Schultz deeply regrets with sincere apologies any inconveniences to clients who have traveled and have undergone any problems pertaining to their holiday. For any further queries please call (685) 24647 and ask for Ainslie. Krystal’s Budget Accommodation Krystal’s is one of the newest budget accommodations located in Central Apia at the Matautu Four Corners. With a total of 18 budget rooms, this property offers a variety of rooms which include single, double, family rooms and dormitories. Two lounge suites are provided for guests to unwind and relax. Shared facilities are provided together with a fully equipped kitchen are available for the guests to use. This property is managed by Ms Annette Chang. For further information you can email them at krystdj4@ipasifika.net , telephone 29078 or fax them on 29004. Livingstone Accommodation & Tours (budget) Livingstone Accommodation & Tours opened its doors to the public late December 2006 and is located at Ma’agao, Fa’atoia. It is owned and operated by Filia & Poe Su’a. Livingstone offers 10 spacious en suite units. Units can fit 3 people and each have a mini fridge for guests to use. For further information please contact livingstoneaccom@yahoo.com or Tel: (685) 30350 Pete’s Island Tours (new tour operator) Pete’s Island Tours is a relatively new tour operator on the scene. Pete’s Island Tours is owned and operated by Mr Peter Paul. He offers half day tours, full day tours and airport transfers. Half day tours are on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays while full day tours are carried out on Thursday and Friday. For further information, you can contact Peter on mobile phone 7774857 or telephone 29664 or petesisland@ipasifika.net Le Alaimoana Hotel (mid-range) STA would like to congratulate Ms Mara Coffin-Hunter on the opening of her new hotel “Le Alaimoana”. It opened its doors on the 17th March 2007 to the public and is located near Apia Park and is about 5 minutes drive from the Apia town centre. The name Le Alaimoana translates to “on the way to the sea”. This beautiful hotel offers 20 boutique rooms of which 6 are self contained and 14 are standard. All rooms have been tastefully furnished to reflect a modern Samoan style using Samoa hardwood. It also offers an on site restaurant and bar for its guests as well as a swimming pool to cool down in after a long day in the sun. All rooms have air condition, television, mini fridge and wireless internet connection. The hotel is owned and managed by Ms Mara Coffin-Hunter. For further information visit their website: www.alaimoana.com or email myroom@alaimoana.ws February Review of Tourist Arrivals 2006/2007 Summary February visitor arrivals experience a significant rise of over 21%. This increase saw over 1,285 additional visitors, from 5,916 visitors in February 2006 over 7,201 visitors in February this year. In addition another positive growth of 15% was also seen in comparison to the first two months, from 13,941 to 16,030 (January to February) of the current year. February comparison saw growth trend in all sectors with the exception of other purposes noting a negative growth respectively. As expected this time of year, visiting friends and relatives hold majority share of the visitor market with 42% show significant growth of more than 38% introducing 840 additional visitors visiting Samoa from 2,164 to 3,004 visitors over February this year. Holiday sector rate second greatest in terms of share with 31%, have also exhibit increase of over 21% in terms of growth, from 1,853 visitors last year to 2,256 visitors in February this year. Other positive growth were seen in number of visitor arrivals from business with almost 7% and sporting activities with 63.6% while other category experienced a negative growth of 5.9% respectively. Again New Zealand is the dominant source market holding majority share of 34% and registered a positive growth of 36.2%, from 1,797 visitors in February 2006 over 2,448 visitors in February this year. American Samoa a close second in terms of share with 24%, experiencing an increase in numbers and bringing in 388 additional visitors visiting Samoa for the review month. Although Australia ranked third in terms of share with 16%, it registered a decline trend of 1.3%, from 1,194 to 1,179 visitors for the review month. USA another potential market is also up by 7.2% and bringing in another extra 39 visitors to Samoa. Cook Island experienced the most significant growth increasing by 2100%, from 1 to 22 visitors over February last year. Other countries had shown another significant growth for the review month at 130% although showing the least number of additional visitors to Samoa at only 21. Other increases were noted in the number of arrivals from other Pacific Islands 62.6%, Fiji 29.3%, Germany 24.7% and United Kingdom 6.3% producing over 200 extra visitors visiting Samoa for the review month. Male and Female visitor arrivals to Samoa share an even distribution and there seems to be no significant difference between the two in all age groups. The 25-44 age group contributes to many of the tourists arriving in Samoa accounting for 35% share of total arrivals. Followed closely by the 45-64 age group contributes the second largest number of tourists with 32% share. Air being the common mode of travel has seen 6,913 or 96% of all visitors arrival into Samoa in February while only 288 or 4% tend to travel by sea. Air New Zealand and Poly Blue continue to be our major air carriers contributing to 60% of all inbound visitors traffic flow. Samoa Tourism Authority Contact Details: HEAD OFFICE (SAMOA) Samoa Tourism Authority PO Box 2272, Apia, Samoa Tel: 685 63500 Fax: +685 20886 Email: info@visitsamoa.ws NEW ZEALAND Samoa Tourism Authority Level 1, Samoa House 283 Karangahape Road, Auckland PO Box 68423, Newton, Auckland Tel: +64 9 379 6138 Fax: +64 9 379 8154 Email: samoa@samoa.co.nz AUSTRALIA Samoa Tourism Authority PO Box 611, Leumeah NSW 2560 Tel: 02 4627 5926 Mobile: 0420988749 Fax: 02 4627 5926 Email: samoa@visitsamoa.com.au GERMANY (Marketing Representative) Interface International Petersburger str . 94 D – 10247 Berlin, Germany Tel: 0049 (0) 304288012 Fax: 0049 (0) 42256286 Email: samoatourism@interface-net.de UNITED KINGDOM Marketing Services (Travel & Tourism) Limited High Holborn House, 52-54 High Holborn London WCIV 6RB United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7242 3131 Fax: 44 (0) 20 7242 2838 Email: info@supereps.com |
islandboi321 11:40 UTC 01 May 2007 | <blockquote>Quote <hr>Green Turtle Holidays & Tours Closed Indefinitely<hr></blockquote> This is no great loss to the tourism industry of Samoa as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for all the interesting updates, talofa. | 1