Samoa calls for tourists

JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff.co.nz

As the medical and defence aid to Samoa winds down, tourism outlets are hoping to bring visitors back to the Pacific nation.

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New Zealand's medical and defence aid to Samoa is winding down but the Pacific nation is calling for help of another kind – tourism.

A huge earthquake and tsunami last month left more than more than 150 people dead, including eight New Zealanders, died in Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa.

New Zealand responded with defence and medical help, with more than 150 defence personnel and 30 health professionals involved.

Those efforts were winding down and the country now needed tourists to return.

The Samoa Tourism Authority tomorrow starts a newspaper and television promotion.

"It's a great time to visit Samoa," New Zealand marketing manager Fasitau Ula told the New Zealand Herald.

"The sunshine is still here, the waterfalls and blow-holes are still here, the smiling faces are still here.

"The only thing that's not here is you."

About 15-20 per cent of homes were hit by the tsunami but for the rest it was "business as usual".

"Instead of people sending money across to help the fund-raising activities, why don't they come and enjoy their holiday, and at the same time their tourism dollar is helping rebuild the country and the damaged infrastructures," Mr Ula told the newspaper.

- NZPA