KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister and Minister of Samoa Tourism Authority at Official Opening of the Samoa Tourism Exchange 2024 Event

SAMOA, April 28 - Monday, 29th April 2024, Robert Louis Stevenson Museum @ 6pm

O le a ta’oto ia sa o le vao filifili, ina ne’i o’u paō tia ona to’ia lea o a’u i mala o le vao sa. Pe musu vao sa pe musuva fo’i le asa, ona felelei lea o le fuifui o le seuga. E faigata le mamalu lele e fa’aoloolo gata, ou te le gafa taulimaina pe ou te faitau fo’i fa’aalofilima.

Lau Susuga ile Ta’itaí ole Sauniga – Afioga Father Spatz Silva

Ministers of Cabinet

Associate Minister of Tourism

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Travel Trade Partners

Samoa Tourism Industry and Stakeholders

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Talofa Lava and a pleasant good evening to you all.

I welcome you warmly to the Samoa Tourism Exchange 2024 on behalf of the Government and people of Samoa, and it is indeed a pleasure to be here with you all this evening for the Opening Reception of this Event.

Tonight, we gather at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum – home of the late famous poet and teller of tales, Tusitala Robert Louis Stevenson to celebrate the opening of the Samoa Tourism Exchange 2024. It is quite fitting as we Samoans are renowned for our storytelling prowess – so be prepare to be regaled with captivating tales by our charming folks during your stay.

The Samoa Tourism Exchange is a momentous opportunity for the Samoa tourism industry to engage in productive business discussions, networking opportunities, product familiarisation, and knowledge exchange with our international travel trade partners from our source markets. This year’s Samoa Tourism Exchange brought together fifty- three (53) international travel trade partners from eleven (11) countries – and fifty (50) local exhibitors.

As we start this Exchange, I wish to reaffirm the importance of this opportunity to showcase our culture, our hospitality, and our tourism offerings.

To our international travel trade partners, I feel compelled to express this deeply personal sentiment, Samoa is our treasure. – the Samoan people’s treasure, and we hold it in high regard as our very livelihoods are intricately tied to its well-being, therefore we respect it, we love it and we share it communally. This is the essence of our Faasamoa or Samoan way of life.

When promoting our country, I would like for you to remember that Samoa is more than just a tourist destination with amenities like hotels, rental vehicles, restaurants, tours etc – it is a precious Samoan treasure characterised by its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm, proud, hospitable people. Samoa offers a very peaceful and safe environment for all visitors.

I am confident that the collaboration and partnerships fostered at the Samoa Tourism Exchange will contribute to the revitalization of the Samoa tourism and its sustainable growth in alignment with one of the Government’s national priorities.

Collectively we hold the ability to influence the future of Samoa tourism, ensuring its positive impacts on communities, environmental conservation, and inclusive opportunities. I wish you well in your deliberations.

I wish to express my gratitude and commend the local tourism industry for your ongoing efforts to develop and enhance our tourism offerings and collaborating with the Authority in marketing the destination. Malo lava! Faafetai!

Finally, my sincere thanks and gratitude to all our sponsors for this year’s event – Fiji Airways, our Gold sponsor, and associate sponsors. Your support and valuable assistance contributed tremendously to making this event a reality. Faafetai tele lava.

I now to declare the Samoa Tourism Exchange 2024 Officially open!

Soifua ma ia manuia.