Samoa's Tourism Authority says visitor numbers from New Zealand are expected to rise dramatically this year.
Its tourism marketing representative in New Zealand Fasitau Ula says last year's visitors numbered 18,000.
He says this year they are projecting visitor numbers to soar to about 20,000.
He says tourism has been helped by the South Pacific Games.
"Firstly, it's very much affordable compared to previous years. There is a vast improvement in our accessibility support by competitive travel packages. And Samoa is politically stable and safe for visitors, who they now place an important role in their destination choice."
Fasitau Ula says Samoa is now one of the top destinations in the Pacific.
Tourism promotion will be a topic of discussion at the joint Samoa Trade Exhibition to be held in American Samoa in November, in a bid to find ways to market the two countries as a tourist destination
