It looks a lot more like Christmas as the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.) and a church-partner turned on the switches of a festive season lights display in front of the Government Building at Eleele-fou on Friday night.

The other partner of the S.T.A. is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S.) which sponsored the lights display next to the S.T.A. Fale which is visible to motorists using the Beach Road in town. 

The Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster also switched on the lights at the official launching. 

Spearheaded by the S.T.A. in partnership with the L.D.S. the festive season lights lit up the town area to compliment the Christmas decorations of assorted types and kinds.

Elder Sapele Fa'alogo of the L.D.S. said during the opening ceremony that the theme for the event this year is “light up the world with love.”

“Three stakes of the Church of the Latter Day Saints here in the Apia town area collaborated in putting together the waterfront lights display," he said.

“This is part of our assistance to the Government in celebrating Christmas this year, and to commemorate the birth of our Lord Savior who came and died to wash away our sins."

Toeolesulusulu said in his address that the Government asked the L.D.S. if they could put together the lights display outside the Government Building.

“Since Monday till now (Friday night), I have witnessed members of the Church work tirelessly to put together this wonderful lights display which will host some of S.T.A’s various Christmas events which start next week," he said.

The Minister also advised members of the public to refrain from damaging or vandalising the waterfront lights as a lot of effort went into making the display possible.

About 100 or so members of the public converged on the Government Building once the lights were switched on by Toeolesulusulu on Friday night. 

A member of the public who was there for the official launching, Junior Fiu, told the Samoa Observer that that he visits the lights display every year.

“I am disappointed that we’re not having the Lights Festival this year because I always look forward to it every year, but nevertheless I am still thankful though that S.T.A and the L.D.S. have gone through with this initiative,” he said.

The S.T.A. have also announced some of their programs scheduled for the coming week to celebrate this year's festive season.