Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) Director Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia traveled to Vavaʻu, Tonga, from October 18- 25, 2025, to engage in a full suite of strategic regional tourism events hosted by the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO).

Throughout the week, Director Taimalelagi participated in the Tourism Board Meeting, the Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting, the Pacific Tourism Sustainability Forum, and the Cruise Summit, where discussions centered on strengthening sustainable tourism practices, enhancing tourism financing and investment, improving regional air-travel connectivity, advancing career pathways within the tourism sector, and growing the Pacific’s cruise tourism economy.

The Tourism Board and Council of Ministers meetings emphasized the importance of collaborative air-transport solutions and open-skies initiatives that will better connect smaller island economies such as American Samoa to global visitor markets.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Tourism Sustainability Forum brought together experts from across the region to address climate resilience, support community-led tourism development, and reinforce locally rooted supply chains, ensuring that tourism benefits reach into households and village enterprises.

These discussions were complemented by the Cruise Summit, where leaders examined evolving cruise-visitor trends, port infrastructure readiness, and the shared goal of dispersing economic benefits across communities rather than concentrating them solely in capital ports.

A key highlight of the week was Director Taimalelagi’s role officiating the launch of the “Pacific Regional Roadmap” and the four Country Pathways under the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP) Project.

This flagship initiative is funded by the European Union through the SWITCH-Asia Pacific Policy Support Component and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific. The launch event, held at the Puataukanave Hotel in Vavaʻu, featured Director Taimalelagi unveiling the Regional Roadmap before inviting representatives from the demonstration countries — Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, and Vanuatu — to join her on stage for a commemorative photograph marking a united commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism investment across the region.

The STEP Roadmap and Country Pathways are expected to guide coordinated policy action and unlock new opportunities for environmentally responsible destination development throughout the Pacific.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sālote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuita, Princess Royal of Tonga, attended the events as Guest of Honor.

Director Taimalelagi expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent American Samoa in these vital conversations, reaffirming the Territory’s dedication to regional collaboration that uplifts Pacific people, protects natural and cultural resources, and ensures tourism remains a force for resilient and inclusive development.