Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Regarding a recent Samoa News story on the Department of Interior funding allocation to help further tourism development in American Samoa, does the territorial government have data on the amount of money visitors/tourists spend in American Samoa? Wasn’t there a recent visitor survey? With so much talk about tourism development, and a long-standing government push for more frequent air service to Pago Pago, do the statistics show a justification for such a move?

Samoa News responds:

Samoa News has received several inquiries on this same issue, specifically visitors' spending in the past months. Now questions from the public have been pouring in over the past several days, after our report on new DOI funds to further develop tourism.

The survey mentioned —  the American Samoa International Visitors Survey 2017 report, commissioned by the American Samoa Visitors Bureau and delivered by Fiji-based South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), is the first comprehensive survey on visitor arrivals and also covers how much money these visitors spent on island.

The report, released early this year is the result of field work carried out at Pago Pago International Airport from Dec. 1, 2016 to Aug. 30, 2017 through funding from the South Pacific Tourism Organization.

While Samoa News had reported earier this year on some major key findings, such as the number of visitors and where they came from, there was, however, no follow-up at the time on how much money was spent by these visitors.

According to the survey, estimated total expenditures generated from visitors in 2017 was just over $3.43 million. It also provided a summary breakdown of key areas of expenditures, with accommodations being the highest per person spent at $1,295 or 57% of visitor spending.

Family obligations represented the second highest per person amount at $1,200; and this is a reflection that relatives living abroad are likely to spend money on families in American Samoa, the report says.

Shopping was the third highest expenditure with a per person amount of $460.  Other key areas of expenditures are transport, “activities”, and handicrafts.

Samoa News notes that of the total estimated spending of $3.4 million, total hotel or accommodation expenditures spending totaled more than $1.95 million.

SPENDING BY SOURCE OF MARKET

The report also provides estimated 'spend by source of market'. For example, USA and Hawaii markets accounted for 70% of all expenditures, with the USA representing 59%. According to data in the report, the USA mainland market spent just over $2.01 million while the portion visitors from Hawaii spent amounted to $379,813.

However, of the two markets, Hawaii had a higher per person spending of $1,595 compared to $1,331 for visitors from the mainland USA.

The survey also found that the highest per person spending were those visitors from long-haul markets in Europe with $2,113 — although their estimated total spending was $82,417. “They are more likely to come to American Samoa for a longer stay, thus have a higher per person spending,” it says.

“Asia, being an emerging source region, had the lowest spending of all visitors. However, this is expected to grow, as this region continues to develop,” the survey report states.

Divided into 13 sections, the report covers various issues, including who visits the territory; how long they stay, and how much they spend. It also presents information on each of these issues through info graphics — detailed pieces of information, accompanied by charts and tables.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the survey states that the U.S. (excluding Hawai’i) is the biggest source market at 42.3%; followed by Pacific island countries at 21%; Hawai’i with 11.3%; and New Zealand at 10.1%. (See Samoa News Jan. 24 edition for details.)

For more information regarding the survey report, visit the Visitors Bureau online at <www.americansamoa.travel>