Visitor numbers to Samoa in 2016 reached their highest level in five years.

The Samoa Tourism Authority says last year there were 145,740 visitors, a 4.8 percent increase on the previous year.

It says there was a 7.04 percent growth in earnings from tourism to $US155 million dollars.

The Authority says there was strong growth in Asian and European markets, but New Zealand continues to supply the most visitors, followed by Australia and American Samoa.