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Samoa Tourism Authority has so far confirmed 21 cruise ships calling into the Port of Apia this year and forecasting 30 cruise ships by the year 2016.
According to Sonja Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority, "the Port Preparedness workshop was very successful and it provided a great platform for our local service providers on ways to enhance on-shore cruise visitor experiences, their products and services, infrastructure and institutional frameworks to cater to visiting cruise ships' and passengers' needs and requirements".
The workshop was implemented under the European Union's Pacific Regional Tourism Capacity Building Programme (PRTCBP) and facilitated by the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) in collaboration with the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA).
The 2 day workshop comprised of 65 participants from Samoa's government
departments and authorities relating to tourism, infrastructure, transport, environment, and local port authorities; and private sector partners specifically port and shipping agencies, tour operators, passenger transport operators including taxi drivers and retailers.
Margaret Ryan, Managing Director of Apia based inbound tour operation; M & A Travel & Tours said "the workshop was very good and informative in reminding local operators and service providers on the importance of maintaining and improving the level and quality of experiences for cruise visitors".
According to Chris Cocker, PRTCBP Project Manager at SPTO; "a well-coordinated and team approach is needed by private and public sector stakeholders in Samoa's cruise sector". He identified some key issues in the need to push for promotion of tours and products in advance to cruise passengers onboard the ships; to create a competitive edge in products sold by retailers in comparison to those offered in other cruise destinations; to encourage and attract investment into Samoa for infrastructure and development for this niche; to understand what the cruise passengers are looking for and want in a destination; and to develop an action plan on priority areas that need to be addressed and implemented from now till 2016. Overall, Samoa needs to understand that they are on showcase on the day a cruise ship visits their port, so it is pertinent that all key components that will make this an unforgettable experience is well coordinated."
The next Pacific Port Preparedness workshop will be carried out in Tonga on the 13th and 14th of August, followed by the Cook Islands and Fiji. Sydney based company Nautic Consulting will again be delivering these workshops. |
