17 Oct 2003

Samoa drops short-term visa requirement for Chinese

10:23 am on 17 October 2003

The Samoan government has dropped a requirement for Chinese citizens to obtain a permit for short-term visits.

The head of the prime minister's department, Auseugaefa Va'asatia Poloma, says the policy was changed after problems with some Chinese visitors stopped.

Auseugaefa says in the past some harrived without means to support themselves in Samoa and without a return ticket.

He says those wishing to stay for more than 30 days still need a permit.