Pacific Island announces it will reopen to travellers

A unique Pacific Island destination will reopen to travellers in the coming months and is urging Australians to visit.

The Pacific Island nation of Samoa will reopen to travellers in the coming months and is urging Aussie travellers to visit.

Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa confirmed the country would welcome Samoan citizens and foreign contractors starting this month, and allow travellers into the country from August or September.

As was the case for many in the region, Samoa’s tourism industry has been badly affected by the pandemic since the country shut its borders in March 2020.

Samoa is encouraging Aussie travellers to visit when the country reopens in the coming months. Image: STA

Covid protocols will be in place to keep locals and travellers safe, including the country’s own contact tracing app, training for tourism operators and bolstered testing capabilities.

“As international travel begins to take shape again, Samoa has been striving to ensure critical components of our travel-ready toolkit are in place,” Samoa Tourism Authority’s acting chief executive Dwayne Bentley said.

“All of these efforts ensure we are in a top position to safely open borders to travellers.”

Tourism authorities say Samoa offers a unique blend of untouched natural beauty and culture. Image: STA

Australians who venture to Samoa can expect a unique and rewarding experience tourism authorities say.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors with open arms later this year, and we encourage travellers to experience Samoa’s untouched beauty, unique cultural experiences, rich heritage and friendly locals for themselves,” Mr Bentley said.

Flights from Australia to Samoa take five and a half hours.