Savaii Tourism Operators Partner With NZ Maori Tourism
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt gifted a traditional siapo to the visiting NZ tourism delegation.
Photo: Savaii Samoa Tourism
The Savaii Tourism Industry and its members banded together to officially welcome the Chief Executive Officer of NZ Maori Tourism, Pania Tyson-Nathan, and her delegation to the big island of Savaii last week.
The intimate gathering joined together industry representatives from Savaii with NZ Māori officials and operators to celebrate a monumental connection, described by the visitors as being many years in the making.
The Savaii Samoa Tourism Association with the attendance of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, Hon. Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt, conferred a traditional siapo (tapa cloth) to the visitors from NZ Maori Tourism.
The tapa cloth was made by Savaii Samoa Tourism Association member Faapito of Siapo Demonstration, located in the village of Vailoa Palauli.
The group of Maori tourism members is a formalised association by the Government of New Zealand in their bid to revitalise the Maori culture as part of tourism.
The President of the Samoa Hotel and Hospitality Association (S.H.H.A) and Vaimoana Resort Managing Director, Tupa'i Saleimoa Vaai, stated that tourism industry representatives at Savaii are basically doing the same thing as NZ Maori Tourism.
"If I think of Savaii's drive to talk about our cultural heritage as part of our uniqueness in the world, then we're on the same page as NZ Maori Tourism," he said.
"Savai’i Tourism is embarking on activities that revive traditions and I know that that is what the Maori Tourism is also focusing on.”
NZ Maori Tourism have been touring Savaii and Samoa as part of a family with the Samoa Tourism Authority, they travelled back to Upolu Island at the end of last week .