31 Dec 2010

American Samoa sizes up sports tourism

2:32 pm on 31 December 2010

The five-year tourism master plan for American Samoa is recommending the promotion of sports tourism.

The executive director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, David Vaeafe, says the Samoa Bowl is just the type of niche tourism the territory needs.

The Samoa Bowl, which is now in its 8th year, attracts high school teams from Hawaii, California and Australia in football, volleyball and baseball.

This year more than 200 players, coaches, parents and supporters from off island are participating.

Mr Vaeafe says they want to do more to promote the territory as a venue for international and regional sporting events.

"You know last year for the first time we had Australia come. This year they have come back as well as Hawaii football and volleyball teams we have also got a California volleyball team as well. So in terms of profiling the destination, it raises the profile by having these international visitors here to compete [and] who are also being followed offshore as well."

The executive director of the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, David Vaeafe.