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Samoa Tourism Honoured in 12th Annual Webby Awards
Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards are the leading international awards honouring excellence on the Internet. The awards are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Auckland based agency, electric art has pulled off a prestigious international coup to become an “official honoree” for the Samoa Tourism Authority web site www.samoa.travel The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states of the USA. "The Webby Awards honour the outstanding work that is setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. The project was conceived and produced by electric art in conjunction with and on behalf of the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA). Sonja Hunter, CEO of the STA, said she was delighted with this recognition which would greatly assist her destination to achieve its objective to quickly tell the world about the many attractions of Samoa. “We have always believed in internet marketing knowing it will continue to grow tourism for our country. We believe in miracles and are delighted to have been chosen as an honoree in the Webby’s with our valued partners at electric art, “she said. (Source: Samoa Tourism Authority Website 12 April 2008)
Tahiti Tourisme’s Local Tourism Fair
The GIE Tahiti Tourisme will held it’s first Tahiti & Her Islands Tourism Fair this week in an effort to further develop domestic tourism among residents who spend nearly 30 billion French Pacific francs (US$405 million/251.4 million euros) yearly on overseas vacations. Nearly 80 tourist industry professionals from French Polynesia's five archipelagoes will seek to encourage residents to reconnect with "their heritage and history" by discovering or rediscovering the beauty of Tahiti and Her Islands. Using its experience at overseas tourism fairs, Tahiti Tourisme, in partnership with domestic airline Air Tahiti, hopes to "boost" domestic tourism, said Dany Panero, Tahiti Tourisme's chief executive. According to studies made by the "Institut d'Emission d'Outre-Mer", better known by its initials (IEOM), French Polynesia residents yearly spend more than 30 billion French Pacific francs on overseas vacations. (Source: Tahitipresse 14 April 2008)
Cook Islands Tourism Aims at 40 Percent Growth
The new head of tourism in the Cook Islands is targetting 40 percent growth in the industry. John Dean, who is the new chief executive of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, says numbers are increasing annually by five percent but the country can do better. He wants to start by getting more Australians to visit and is discussing the possibility of direct flights from Sydney. Mr Dean also says they will re-open a dedicated office in Los Angeles. He says while the Cooks Islands currently caters for about 100,000 visitors a year, its infrastructure could support up to 140,000. “We currently only get 10,000 Australians, as an example, to the Cook Islands in a year. Now that is just not acceptable numbers to me and I would suggest that we should be looking at between 20 and 25 thousand Australians annually between 18 months to two years, and if we can ensure that we continue to have flights from Los Angeles then that market will continue to grow.” (Source: Radio New Zealand Online 16 April 2008)
World Expo Shanghai 2010 Participants Surpass 200
The World Expo Shanghai 2010 has achieved a milestone with the number of participants surpassing 200, Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said yesterday. With the confirmation of Antigua and Barbuda and the Republic of Marshall Islands, 201 countries and international organizations have accepted China's invitation to participate. "Reaching the 200 mark is just the start of realizing our objective," Hong added. "The organizers will provide better services to participants, making a success in quantity into a success in quality." The organizers also pledged to attract more than 70 million visitors to the event. World Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, had a record 172 participants. That record was broken by Shanghai Expo in October, three months earlier than scheduled. (Source: World Expo 2010 Website)
Airlines Passenger Loads Worldwide Falling, IATA says
Latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that the average global passenger load factor (PLF) fell to 73.3 percent in February 2008, the most "significant" drop in four years. According to IATA, the February 2008 figure shows traffic has fallen 0.6 percentage point below the passenger load factor (PLF) of February last year. The industry recorded 7.4 percent passenger growth in 2007 worldwide. "When we adjust for the impact of the leap year, passenger demand increased by 4-5 percent," said Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of IATA. "Demand is still growing, but it is slowing down." Load factors from all four major largest carrier regions indicate a decline, said Bisignani. The European PLF recorded the largest single drop of 1.6 percent to 71.7 percent, while the North American carriers experienced a 0.5 percent drop to 74 percent. While the Middle East sector showed a 0.9 percentage point drop, falling to 72.6 percent, the Asian carriers saw their PLF fall by 0.1 percentage points to 75.2 percent. (Source: eTurbo News 18 April 2008)
Polynesian Blue Airlines to Support Samoa Tourism Authority in Promoting Samoa
The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) and Polynesian Blue Airline have pledged to continue working together to promote Samoa in Australia and New Zealand. The pledge was made following a visit by a 10-member Polynesian Blue Familiarization delegation to STA earlier the week. “STA is a recognised organisation internationally,” said Polynesian Blue’s Business Development Manager for the Pacific, Tuilaepa Edmund von Heiderbrandt. “Over 16,000 people visited Samoa last year in the month of December, and none of them used hotel rooms. “We (Polynesian Blue) will be working together with STA in promoting Samoa and its hotels.” In New Zealand, Poly Blue Pacific Island Sales Representative, Fa’avae Gagamoe said the strategy would target the Pacific island population there. “In New Zealand right now there is a great sharing of resources amongst the Pacific people, it’s no longer about me as a Samoan, it’s about us as a Pacific people,” he said. “So we are talking to the kids, to the parents, to mum and dad to make Samoa as a destination when they think about holidaying.” Talking to the right people, Mr Gagamoe pointed out, was important. “Our job is to talk to the people that matter, where the real difference is made,” he said. Lower fares offered by Poly Blue have made travelling to Samoa irresistible, he said. “Because mum and dad now can travel to Samoa for less than $2000 for a family of four,” said Mr Gagamoe. “And they will still have enough money to spend at the hotels to support the economy by paying for taxis, food and buying souvenirs. (Source: Samoa Observer Online 16 April 2008)
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Virgin Blue Increases flights
Virgin Blue Airlines will increase the number of flights from Australia to Fiji from June. The Australia-based airline's Pacific carrier Pacific Blue flights will be increased to 24 flights a week from June 17. Currently it has 20 non stop flights to/from Sydney and Brisbane. Virgin Blue chief commercial officer Stefan Pichler said the decision to boost services followed ongoing and steady demand for Fiji flights, with strong growth experienced in direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane. He said since Pacific Blue launched flights in September 2004, it had delivered more than 161,000 Australians to Fiji who had injected over FJ$252-million into the local economy. "The new Pacific Blue flights will be a further stimulus for this growth and will ensure Fiji is even more attractive as a destination, especially for the conference and convention market who will have the flexibility of a daily flight to tailor their conference to their specific needs and timings," Mr Pichler said. He said airline representatives were spending two days in Fiji discussing Pacific Blue's ongoing strategy to further increase visitor numbers. (Source: Fiji Times 18 April 2008)
Chatham Pacific Launches Flights to Ha'apai, Vava'u (Tonga)
Tonga’s second domestic airline Chatham Pacific, carrying the Prime Minister and VIPs aboard its 50-seater Convair, made its inaugural flight to Ha'apai and Vava'u on the afternoon of Monday, April 14. After landing at the Salote Pilolevu Airport on Pangai, Ha'apai, the Chatham crew and guests received a warm welcome from the Ha'apai Tourist Association. "Today our dream has come true - It opens a new page for the Ha'apai Tourism because the new airline will not only promote our island but Tonga as a whole," said Mr Kepu of the Ha'apai Governor's office in his welcome speech. Russell Jenkins the airline's Managing Director said although they are starting off with limited flights to Ha'apai they will increase them to become daily in May when they introduce an additional nine-seater Islander aircraft that will service the Niuas and 'Eua. "Our aim is to operate a safe, reliable and regular air service and over time we will develop our schedule and increase the frequency of our flights." he said. Guests on the inaugural flight included the New Zealand High Commissioner Christine Bogle; the Minister of Education Hon. Tevita Palefau; the Minister of Transport Hon Paul Karalus; the Minster of Tourism Hon Fineasi Funaki; and other guests. (Source: Matangi Tonga Online 16 April 2008)
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