A surge in the number of Australian and New Zealand tourists visiting Samoa helped the airline Polynesian Blue record a profit increase.
The carrier announced a pre-tax profit of 2.6 million US dollars for the last six months of 2006.
The result was helped by a 53 per cent increase in the number of Australians holidaying in Samoa, and a 29 per cent increase in New Zealand tourists.
The Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says the airline is providing broad economic benefits to the nation.
Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd and the Samoan government each own 49 per cent of the airline, with an independent Samoan investor owning the other two per cent.
