American Samoa Visitors Bureau is hopeful that a travel trade event set for Sept. 29 in Auckland, showcasing the territory as a destination will attract more visitors and interest from New Zealand, according to the Visitors Bureau eNewsletter.

Visitors Bureau executive director David Vaeafe said this is the first time American Samoa has held such an event in New Zealand and this will provide an opportunity for travel agents in the wider Auckland region to update themselves or learn about a new South Pacific holiday destination just 30 minutes flying time from Samoa.

He says the Visitors Bureau travel partners in New Zealand - Our Pacific, Air New Zealand Holidays, Go Holidays and House of Travel - have generated new tourists for American Samoa since been featured in their brochures and packages for over a year now.

“New Zealand is an important market for us and this event was made possible through the support of the grantor, the U.S. Small Business Administration", he said.

Hotel and tour operators giving presentations are: Tradewinds Hotel, Sadie's by the Sea Hotel, Turtle & Shark Lodge, Tisa's Barefoot Bar, Alofas Tours, North Shore Tours and Pago Pago Tradewinds Tours.  The Visitors Bureau is hosting the New Zealand trade event.