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Small Islands Voice Global Forum
Local approaches to tourism development in Samoa
Two writers from Samoa responded to the article on tourism policy in Seychelles and provide a different view of tourism strategy in the Pacific context.
High Chief Vaasiliifiti Moelagi Jackson writes: I was fascinated by your article and if I'm right - I guess you are a resident of Seychelles. My story begins in 1990 when I took a marketing course at James Cook University and learnt of Seychelles from one of my professors who helped develop and market your country’s tourism. Since then it has been my dream to visit Seychelles to find out about your successes and the lessons learnt.
Here are some of my own experiences as a small island dweller and a developer. I was born and brought up on Savaii, the largest island of the Samoan group. I left the island at the age of 16 to further my education and later worked on the island of Upolu, where the capital of Samoa is located. In 1974, I moved to New Zealand with my husband and children. However, after two months I found my heart was still in Savaii, so I returned.
Coming back, I found Savaii was rather backward, although our people were living in peace and harmony with nature. There were shops, but with only limited goods available. There was hardly any electricity or water system in most of the island, and there was no sealed road. There was only one guesthouse. I built the first hotel on the island and started taking guests in 1976.
Now tourism is one of our country’s main revenue earners. But still 95% of the tourist industry is locally owned. Our government is encouraging investors to come to the island, although we locals have worked hand in hand with government to lay down the rules for investment that have resulted in low-key, locally managed development. Still 81% of our land is traditionally owned with the rest in private or government ownership.
We have two structures working hand in hand, our traditional Matai or Chiefly system, which is selected by individual families, and our democratic government selected by the people. So our system has an internal control. Please do not make the mistake of thinking we have no problems. Our main problem is to voice our concern and see that the government listens to us. We have a problem with logging and we are still trying to declare our island a complete reserve. The government wishes to build a township although some islanders are objecting due to the destruction of the low-lying rainforest. While many of us are determined to declare Samoa an environmental and cultural destination, others prefer mass tourism.
I am also the President of the Indigenous Conservation Organization in Savaii. The government recognises the work of non-governmental organizations such as ours. I think the best thing happening to our country is the good flow of dialogue among stakeholders in tourism in Samoa.
Mali Voi, also from Samoa writes: I totally agree with this article posted by Tex Albert. Large resort developments in small islands such as Seychelles have many disadvantages for the local people. Usually these are run by tour operators, who most often are also the owners. So a large portion of the tourism revenue that is supposed to flow into the destination country is instead locked in the country from which the tours originate. Often all that is left for the local people are the crumbs.
Large resorts are associated with the provision of infrastructure such as roads and bridges, energy and water supply systems, and waste disposal. Many such developments have an adverse impact upon the environment of the small islands and their cultures - slowly suffocating the ‘goose that lays the golden egg’, as the English saying goes.
In many of the Pacific island countries, land is still traditionally owned. In Samoa, you will find that small-scale beach fales (houses) are owned and operated by local people themselves, who are trained by the Samoa Visitors Bureau. Such houses are inexpensive and make a positive contribution to rural development.
Rethinking should come from the countries where tourists originate. Do they wish to share their wealth? Food for thought.
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