Samoan Resort Now Open!

Hi All

Thought it’s worth posting that Litia Sini, which was devastated last year by the tsunami, has just reopened again, one year later.

They have completely rebuilt it from the ground up, literally. New and bigger fales, new toilets and showers, a great new bar and restaurant.

It’s no longer the basic fale on the beach, they now have beds and in general the resort is more comfortable all around.

Latest photos on their new website, www.litiasinibeach.ws</a> .

Cheers
Lawrence

Have just recently returned from a 6 night visit to the rebuilt Litia Sini - was very priviledged to be there for the re-opening. WOW is what I can say. The same wonderful atmosphere and people, but with some new and improved touches. Proper beds, crisp white linen, personalised towels and much more. This is not to say I didn't love it as much on my previous 6 visits, but there is an extra special touch there now. Fabulous to see Lydia, Joeseph, TJ, Joe and Matalina (apologise on spelling) leading the onwards and upwards.

Great news. If I had the cash at present, I would be looking at their pre-paid holiday option.

I personally find it kind of sad that soon Samoa will no longer be affordable... 280 tala for a fale? Come on...

When I was in Samoa last winter, there were many Chinese delegates coming out with Samoan officials looking at places up and down Alapata/Lalomanu... Pointing... staring... laughing. When I asked someone what they were up to, I was told that they were developers looking for spots on the "newly cleared land" for hotels and resorts. Since little of the sea side villages have been rebuilt post-tsunami, and most villagers have moved "up top", it leaves vast swaths of redevelopable land for these clowns... It was only a matter of time until Lalomanu moved up to high-end tourism.

I watched Virgin Cove resort go from being affordable for budget travellers to going upscale and I know I can no longer afford to stay there even though the quality of the place hasn't really moved up with the price.
I fondly remember even 8 years ago when there were very few places that were more than 30 to 50 tala a night... Many offering 3 meals a day.

Sigh... I guess there's still Savai'i for now but there is very little left on Upolu that are on proper beaches that are still affordable for budget travellers.

Glad I got to go to Samoa for 7 visits whilst I could still do it economically...

As few as 5 years ago Litia's cost 70 Tala, if I recall correctly - now, that's a move upmarket!
I personally don't plan return visits to Samoa (other than in transit, maybe) anyway, but if Chinese mass tourism really "discovers" it, the place will be less appealing than ever.
Indeed, budget fales were good value for Samoa, and so common it is hard to believe all are now expensive.
Even if Savai'i remains cheaper, that just happens to be the less beautiful (if bigger and more "remote") island IMHO.

Cost of living in Samoa soared over the last five years and it became very difficult for many people to make ends meet. And I can hardly imagine someone to offer a stay plus 3 meals for 50 Tala anymore. No way except for self exploitation, at least when they serve food that they had to buy the ingredients for.

Regarding Chinese investors in Aleipata or other village locations I do not even see a remote perspective for any projects of that kind to become reality. We have seen so many foreign investment guys here for decades and not a single one of those projects has ever been realized (so far). Not a single one! Quite a few new resorts and hotels in Samoan hands though, including returning overseas Samoans, at least twice as many of those compared to only a few years ago. All more upmarket, with proper (not shared) facilities and in the 200 Tala range. Fales are not the way to go anymore in Samoa.

That may be true for the present, wk, but one has to remember the almighty Tala... The locals, as you well know, will not resettle along the shore at the base of the Alapata cliffs... too many memories, ghosts and all kinds of superstition... You can't blame them... This is leaving huge swaths of land, on some of the most gorgeous beachfront on the planet, empty... Just waiting... The clock is ticking... The greed for the tala grows...

Samoans like money just like the rest of us, and as their economy becomes more in line with that of NZ, you will see more and more opportunistic folks come along... Of course the Chinese cannot develop anything without a Samoan partner, but I have yet to see anyone from the Orient ever give up on their goals... or attain them for that matter... There are hundreds of millions of Chinese now moving into the middle classes... Along with expendible income, the affluence will also bring travelling... Much of China is very cold in the winter...There are only so and so many beaches in the world... Why do you thinkg this is one of the main reasons why the Chinese are forming such tight bonds with SP nations? (that, and fishing rights)
You will see foreign investers coming in droves... drilling and working on the chiefs and local government... Mark my words, they'll get their way...

5 years until the first hotel/resort on Lalomanu... That's my prediction.

One reason the Chinese maintain bonds with Pacific nations is that if they don't, the Taiwanese do.
I visited the main beach on "China's Hawaii", the island of Hainan, this year. Hmmm... don't know how to describe it kindly! ;-)
I still hope Werner is right on this point and for one reason or another, the Chinese will look for beaches closer to home.
And fortunately they are still scared of my fave country so its myriad unspoilt, beautiful beaches are not in immediate danger! ;-)

The question we must all ask ourselves is " What will happen once the Chinese have eaten all the dogs"?

Also, will Samoan women readily staff the Karaoke bars that seem a must for male Chinese tourists, or will they have to import the "ladies" from China?
Just one of the numerous factors Chinese mass tourism would add to the Samoan scene...

I really think the Chinese will find beaches closer to home though, be they in SE Asia or in Micronesia (where Palau and the Marianas are already popular with East Asian package tourists).

I think I can answer some of this from a Solomon perspective. Half of the major hotels (usually seafront) in Honiara are owned by Chinese. There is lots of evidence that one of them set up a "Health Club" and imported Asian ladies ot staff it.
Incidentally, I spent a hilarious night courtesy of another Honiara Chinese business man with some mutual Solomon Islander friends, having a free banquet and Karaoke night an upstairs private room in his restaurant/dance club.

Are those hotels owned by mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, or "local" Chinese?
I seem to recall that the Solomons are one of those Pacific nations that maintain(ed?) diplomatic ties with Taiwan rather than China.

Chinese tend to like women as white and slim as possible.
I guess the first criteria rules out Melanesians, the second Polynesians! ;-)

A bit of each, but more of mainland or Hong Kong origin than Taiwanese. One hotel is owned by a Chinese famil who have been citizens for a couple of generations, but the newer ones I am not so sure how long they've been there.
Basically, those who were left alone when Chinatown was burnt are respected locals - the others???

I read today that the Prime Minister is defending a Parliamentary Bill to to have casinos introduced to Samoa because the usual gambling outlets aren't providing sufficient capital to support sports activities. But there is strong local oppostion to this measure. Major customers to proposed casinos will be undoubtedly be offshore visitors, and quality accommodation facilities will more than likely be required to sit alongside these ventures.

Casinos in Samoa... The nails in the coffin.

Citing islandboi above: "Samoans like money just like the rest of us, and as their economy becomes more in line with that of NZ, you will see more and more opportunistic folks come along."

Well, just to mention it:

Samoan Village rejects development proposal

I am not surprised. And this is even a project strongly promoted by a local businessperson, not just some overseas investor.