Beautiful Samoa – that’s what Samoa Tourism is promoting around the world. Australian Airlines Qantas and Virgin are now making travel to Samoa very hard work!

No direct flights from Australia’s main capital cities, Sydney to Melbourne. All flights now going through Brisbane. My recent experience has prompted me to send this letter to the Editor of the Samoa Observer newspaper, with the hope for change. 

My recent flight on Qantas departed Sydney at 7.30 pm to Brisbane on 17/11/23. Brisbane to Apia flight arrival in Apia was 8.30 am on 18/11/23 some 11 hours (Sydney time 6.30 am).

Why come to “Beautiful Samoa”? Australians have the option for holiday destinations with direct flight access from Sydney and Melbourne. Direct flights available: Qantas and Virgin Australia

Fiji and Noumea – 3.5 hours flight while PNG and Vanuatu – 3 hours flight, Cook Islands – 6 hours flight, Tonga – 4 hours, Tahiti – 7 hours, Bali – 5 hours. 

Many of the above are direct flights daily. Again – Why come to Samoa from Australia?

The capital cities of Australia, Sydney and Melbourne with a combined population of 11 million surely would be a great target market for the "Beautiful Samoa" tourist campaign. 

Question: would you go to Samoa for a holiday? Answer: Love to, but not with the unnecessary stopovers in Brisbane. So many other options, Fiji, Bali, Vanuatu, Noumea etc (direct flights)

The travel industry for all countries is vital. It supports so much of what Samoa's economy needs. Jobs and training, foreign exchange and cultural understanding. 

Samoa is waiting to be discovered, is a unique experience that ticks all the boxes. The “Beautiful Samoa” tourism is a very worthwhile project. 

If the Australian government wants to concentrate on our Pacific neighbour Samoa, help to bring back direct flights to Samoa from Sydney and Melbourne (with a combined population of 11 million).

Geoffrey Pritchard