Domestic market keeps Savaii tourism going

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 16 FEBRUARY 2022: As Covid-19 border closures continue to impact the local tourism industry; operators in Savaii have targeted the domestic market that has kept their businesses going.

Since lockdown in 2020, the industry has worked closely with the Samoa Tourism Authority in developing packages and promotions for the local clientele. After two years, STA invited a media team for a tour of the Savaii tourism industry last week.

We spoke with three tourism businesses who are surviving the drastic Covid-19 downturn thanks to the support of the domestic market.

Le Rosalote Beach Resort
Le Rosalote in Sapapalii managed to keep all thirty-six (36) of its employees amid the pandemic.

Manager, Papalii Tavita said only two of their employees decided to take up employment in the Recognized Seasonal Employment scheme in New Zealand to help their families. They have taken in two school-leavers as their replacements.

‘’Since Covid-19, we’ve had not laid off any employees and we’ve kept all 36 not only for the resort, but our catering service. 18 males and females work at the resort and catering and the rest work at other side businesses supporting the resort,” said Papalii.

The majority of the resort’s guests are Government ministries and organisations coming over for conferences and workshops.

Papalii Tavita, Manager of Le Rosalote Resort.

According to Papalii, their biggest group of visitors before the recent lockdown was the 48 National University of Samoa staff who came to enrol students last month.

Papalii said there had been a consistent flow of local guests such as family groups coming over for funerals.

“It’s almost like there’s no impact at all,” he said.

The only change with business at Rosalote was minimizing of working hours for employees.

“But in terms of income, not much has been lost.”

Their rates remained since the establishment of the resort and Papalii acknowledged the community and local people for their on-going support in keeping their resort in operation despite having no overseas tourists.

‘’Since we began, we haven’t done any major advertising campaign, it was always the word of mouth that makes people come here and that’s why we try our best to improve our services the best we can,’’ he added.

The plan is to expand their business and build more fales as some bookings had to be declined due to full-bookings at times.

Out of their share of the $5million Stimulus Package from the government last December, the resort used it to pay some its loan repayments.

Stevenson’s Resort
For Stevenson’s resort at Manase, some employees had to be laid off due to the downturn but kpt their business open to the domestic market.

Resort Manager, Toesulusulu Leala Ioane said the income they got from the domestic market was barely able to maintain the facilities and keep the business running.

‘’Before, we had 50 employees and now we only manage to keep 15 and we may not be able to keep their normal income as before the lockdown,’’ she said.

Stevenson’s Resort at Manase

Stevenson’s resort was closed for four months in the beginning of 2021 and had just opened before the media tour last week.

Toesulusulu also said that they received some assistance from the Government which they was used to pay off some loan repayments and maintain some facilities.

Jet Over Hotel
At Jet Over hotel, business is opened although there was a time when he hotel closed when the borders initially closed in 2020.

Jet Over Hotel supervisor, Fonoia Albert Devoe.

Supervisor, Fonoia Albert Devoe said five of their employees left for Seasonal employment overseas while the rest are still at work.

Management is trying its best to keep the business going and to keep the employees.

‘’Our main and only hope now is our local guests and the community and ministries had been supportive in booking into our hotel at a time when we have no overseas tourists as our main source of revenue before the pandemic lockdown.’’

Aside from the hotel, Jet Over also provides car rental services.

They also received assistance from the Government that was used to build new villas now under construction as well as maintenance of the facilities.