SAMOA HIGHLIGHTS LUXURY AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT 2013 WORLD TRAVEL MARKET

Samoa Tourism Authority will be exhibiting at the 2013 World Travel Market on the South Pacific Tourism Organisation Stand AS265 and will actively be promoting its luxury offerings with the opening of several high-end resorts on the South Coast of Samoa's main island of Upolu. The Aga Reef Resort opened earlier this year and Coconuts Beach Club Resort & Spa unveiled six over-the-water bungalows and the reopening of SaMoana Resort have all been part of Samoa’s recent high-end opening trend. Future scheduled luxury property launches include Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa, Return to Paradise Resort and the Taumeasina Island Resort development.

Samoa Tourism Authority representatives will also use WTM as an opportunity to highlight its sustainable and eco products in particular its wealth of locally owned accommodation options such as the traditional style beach fales which are unique to Samoa. While Samoa welcomes tourism it is not over developed and the destination is keeping the ethos of a tourism development guided by a respect for the needs of its inhabitants and the environment.

Agents visiting the stand can also take part in a recently launched agent incentive allowing them to win a five night stay in Samoa including flights from Australia or New Zealand if they finalise a booking to Samoa before 31 December 2013. To enter, agents just send an email confirmation of their booking to samoa@representationplus.co.uk.

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For more information please contact:

Samoa Tourism Authority

Tel: +44 208 877 4512

E-mail: samoa@representationplus.co.uk

Visit: www.samoa.travel

VOTE FOR SEABREEZE RESORT, SAMOA TO WIN “NUMBER ONE HONEYMOON HOTEL IN THE WORLD” IN THE HITCHED BREAKTHROUGH AWARDS 2013

Seabreeze Resort, Samoa has been shortlisted in the Hitched Breakthrough Awards 2013 (www.hitched.co.uk) as one of the Top 10 favourite Honeymoon Hotels in the world.

This is further recognition of the 12 villa boutique retreat. Seabreeze was recently crowned a winner of the Top 10 Hotels for Romance in the South Pacific and Top 25 Bargain Hotels in the South Pacific by Trip Advisor in its 2013 Travellers’ Choice® awards, and overall winner for the 2013 Trip Advisers Travellers Choice Award.

Samoa is already established as an idyllic “off the beaten track” honeymoon destination. Seabreeze is located on the South Coast of Samoa’s main island, Upolu. Set in a lush, secluded, tropical cove with panoramic views out onto the turquoise Pacific Ocean.

Seabreeze are offering couples the chance to book a wedding and honeymoon to take place between 1 November 2013 and 31 March 2014 and receive their wedding ceremony free. A minimum of 6 nights’ accommodation must be booked to receive the Free Wedding Ceremony & Honeymoon Bonus Promotion. Payment 45 days prior to arrival. For more information, visit www.seabreezesamoa.com.

For those that want to marry on island, marriages in Samoa are legally recognised worldwide, with many of the hotels, resorts and tour operators offering wedding and honeymoon packages with in-house wedding coordinators. Application forms for a marriage license must be filed fourteen days prior to the wedding with the Justice Department in Apia and this can be done through a local wedding coordinator.

The authentic and unspoilt Polynesian islands of Samoa feature powder-soft beaches, warm tropical seas and fascinating coral reefs full of marine life, plus wildlife, waterfalls and lagoons. Adventure or relaxation – spas, pampering, sunbathing, hiking, cycling kayaking and snorkelling... have a little or a lot of whatever your heart desires!

Voting in the Hitched Breakthrough Awards closes on 05 November 2013 so make sure to visit www.hitched.co.uk/HBA/vote before then and show your support for Seabreeze Resort and Samoa as a world class honeymoon destination.

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For more information please contact:

Samoa Tourism Authority

Tel: +44 208 877 4512

E-mail: samoa@representationplus.co.uk

Visit: www.samoa.travel

Notes to editors:

Samoa: The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific

The islands of Samoa - The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific - are the true heart of Polynesia. Ten islands of stunning wild beauty, Samoa - or Independent Samoa as it is now known so as to avoid confusion with American Samoa, is paradise waiting to be explored. From powder soft beaches, to warm tropical seas, colourful coral reefs alive with marine life. The rugged, lush interiors reveal endless wildlife, waterfalls and hiking trails. 

English Cricket Fans Can Have A Wicket Time In Samoa This Winter

English cricket fans heading to Australia this Winter for the 2013-14 Ashes series can make the most of their trip to the region by paying a visit to Samoa, the Sporting Capital of the South Pacific. The country, a short flight away from Australia, has a rich and proud sporting history and visiting cricket fans can take in a game of Kilikiti, an alternative form of cricket played by Samoans.

Kilikiti was introduced to the Islands in the nineteenth century by visiting English missionaries and is played in villages across the country. Unlike cricket, there is no limit to a team’s size in Kilikiti and passers-by are encouraged to join in. A typical game is a multi-day community event filled with singing, dancing, and ending with a feast.

As well as sampling a flavour of Samoan sport, visitors to Samoa can also expect to witness unrivalled natural beauty, including lush green fertile valleys, tropical rainforests, rugged volcanic mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, beautiful beaches and brilliant blue lagoons. The ten islands which make up this beautiful country each offer very distinct and different environments for visitors to explore.

Surfing, snorkeling, and swimming with turtles are just some of the aquatic activities that visitors to this water wonderland can dive into. Sporty types who prefer to stay on dry land can explore Samoa’s biggest island Savai’i on bicycle by touring the coastal roads or hiking in the vast rainforest interior. For those who just want to put their feet up and relax, Samoa is home to luxury and boutique retreats and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. For the authentic Samoan experience, visitors can overnight in one of the many locally owned beach fale resorts and enjoy a “sleep under the stars” experience.

Samoa is a short flight from Sydney or Brisbane with Virgin Australia, making the islands an easy South Pacific add-on to a trip to Australia. www.virginaustralia.com

-ENDS-

 For more information please contact:

Samoa Tourism Authority

Tel: +44 208 877 4512

E-mail: samoa@representationplus.co.uk

Visit: www.samoa.travel

Notes to editors:

Samoa: The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific

The islands of Samoa - The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific - are the true heart of Polynesia. Ten islands of stunning wild beauty, Samoa - or Independent Samoa as it is now known so as to avoid confusion with American Samoa, is paradise waiting to be explored. From powder soft beaches, to warm tropical seas, colourful coral reefs alive with marine life. The rugged, lush interiors reveal endless wildlife, waterfalls and hiking trails.