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Samoan PM tells tourism industry to do more for itself

The Prime Minister of Samoa has written to tourism operators to tell them there is not much more the government can do for them.Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, writing an open letter in the Samoa Observer, reacted to claims by hoteliers that their industry is in crisis.He says the government has invested heavily in transport and has been in Honolulu this week to ask Hawai’ian Air to extend its flights to Apia and bring more American tourists.Tuilaepa, who is also the tourism minister, says operators shouldn’t be spoon-fed and need to be proactive, and singled out Aggie Grey’s, Sea Breeze and Tanoa Tusitala as successful hotels in Samoa.He also says the key is to market packages to New Zealand and Australia more effectively than Fijian competitors.