23 Aug 2018

Lack of accommodation holding back American Samoa tourism

12:24 pm on 23 August 2018

Limited tourist accommodation in American Samoa is thwarting efforts to grow the industry, the head of Hawaiian Airlines says.

Peter Ingram photo

Peter Ingram photo Photo: RNZ Pacific /Fili Sagapolutele

Peter Ingram visited the territory and met with airline staff and government officials.

American Samoa governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has been pushing tourism development since he took office in 2013 as an alternative to the fish canneries that the territory's economy heavily relies on.

Mr Ingram said the airline collaborated with travel agencies and the American Samoa Visitors Bureau to present holiday packages that would help stimulate tourism.

The airline was also trying to generate awareness of American Samoa as a visitor destination, Mr Ingram said.

"One of the challenges we see with how much that can grow is that we still have a very limited inventory of accomodations overall in American Samoa."