By Tina Mata’afa-Tufele Elise
Excitement is building at Taumeasina Island Resort where more than 50 staff has been hired to prepare for re-opening of the country to international travelers on 1 August, 2022.
General Manager of Taumeasina, Tuiataga Nathan Bucknall said they are all “very excited.”
Samoa’s borders have been closed to tourists for two years.
“We are all certainly very excited, as I am sure the whole of Samoa is,” Tuiataga told Newsline Samoa.
“It will be amazing to be offering the same hospitality that has been afforded to the domestic market in the last two years, to our international market again, both Samoans visiting relatives and friends, as well as bonafide tourists.”
Intensive training is being conducted for the 50 plus workers who started their new jobs last week.
Staff are being trained in all facets of their positions, with in-house trainers and other organisations: Samoa Red Cross, the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority and the Samoa tourism Authority, Tuiataga said.
“We have recently had a recruitment day where we hired 50 plus staff. They all started last week and are currently being trained in all facets of their positions,” he said.
“Both internal training run by our Human Resources Department and also external training done by other organisations such as Red Cross, F.E.S.A. and other training initiatives offered by Samoa Tourism Authority.”
Bookings are coming in slowly and most are from visiting friends and relatives.
But “the good news,” says Tuiataga, is each week there is an increase in bookings.
“Bookings are coming in for the month of August, but they are slow, as we predicted mainly the visiting friends and relatives market coming in, and this is where we have spent our marketing dollars to begin with,” he said.
“The travel industry held back on selling Samoa until just recently, as they were concerned about travel requirements into the destination, but now that these have been widely published, they have started to go to campaign.”
The Christmas and New Year holiday season, Tuiataga notes, is looking more than good.
It is looking amazing.
“[The] good news is each week we are seeing an increase in bookings, and it looks like we are going to have an amazing Christmas and New Year’s period,” he said.
“Sadly, Samoa missed the winter period, June through August which historically is one of our peak periods.”
Taumeasina prides itself on quality service and a resort that caters to holiday makers and business travelers.
They are quite proud of their product, said Tuiataga.
“Taumeasina Island Resort is the only island resort located in the heart of Apia. We cater to both holiday makers and business travelers alike. We are very proud of our product and we always strive to meet the guest’s expectations,” Tuiataga said.
“We have entertainment every night of the week at Taumeasina Island Resort and ensure that all our guests’ requirements are met.”
He assures that Taumeasina will always offer rates just for locals.
“We have always and will continue to offer local rates to our domestic market,” said Tuiataga.
“We pride ourselves on providing quality service to our diaspora, family and relatives overseas, tourists and the local market…Taumeasina Island Resort really is a place where memories are made.”