Visitors Bureau focuses on promotional efforts and capacity building

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Recognizing the need to equip local hospitality professionals with the necessary skills to be on par with the rapid changes in the tourism industry, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB), in collaboration with the American Samoa Community College, commenced a hospitality training program on July 5 — offering two courses: Basic Hospitality Management and Customer Service Application. By investing in capacity building, the aim is to elevate the tourism industry’s service standards and ensure a memorable experience for all patrons.

In an effort to forge a more resilient and sustainable tourism industry post-pandemic, the ASVB also took part in regional workshops organized by the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) in Fiji.

While there, the ASVB successfully hosted a training opportunity on Digital Marketing. This event showcased American Samoa's commitment to promoting tourism and developing digital marketing strategies within the territory. Government and private organizations were invited to register and participate in the training program, which took place on July 10 and July 11, 2023. The training was led by industry expert Tasneem Hussein, Director of MyFijiStore, who shared her extensive knowledge and experience in digital transformation.

Throughout the training sessions, participants had the opportunity to explore digital marketing techniques, gain insights into industry best practices, and learn strategies to engage with potential visitors from around the world. The curriculum covered topics such as social media marketing, search engine optimization, content creation, and data analytics, empowering attendees with the tools they need to succeed in today's highly competitive tourism landscape.

Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia, Director of ASVB in response to questions from Samoa News, says the two-day workshop was a success, “whereas it’s considered important for the local industry, and SPTO’s 20 member islands.”

She also had comments about the two-day training in partnership with Adult Education at ASCC.

She said, it “just started last week, and it’s a five-week course twice a week for two hours, teaching Hospitality, and Customer Service,” and is eligible for college credits and a certification.

 “This Program just started this year to provide training opportunities here in the Territory, so our people and visitors would get better served, and those seeking employment would have a Certificate,” she explained.

When asked about the tourist inflow in American Samoa, Taimalelagi says since they opened borders completely in January 2023 cruise ships are already starting to come in and the tourists are not only the people that come in on cruise ships, and non Samoans coming off the airplanes, they are also Samoans visiting families, here.

“Domestic tourism is important and incoming tourists and visitors are also very important,” she emphasized.

Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga expressed deep appreciation to the ASVB for hosting this invaluable training opportunity.

“We are grateful to the American Samoa Visitors Bureau for their commitment to the development of our tourism industry.

“This collaboration between the ASVB and the SPTO underscores our shared commitment to elevating tourism standards and driving sustainable growth in the territory.

“We are confident that American Samoa and our regional counterparts will continue to thrive and attract visitors from across the globe,” Lemanu stated.

The American Samoa Government looks forward to further collaboration with the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, the South Pacific Tourism Organization, and other regional partners, the governor said.