Governor
signs bill establishing the American Samoa Visitor's Bureau
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
Gov. Togiola
Tulafono signed into law on April 25 a bill establishing the
American Samoa Visitor's Bureau (ASVB), as a semi-autonomous
agency of the government that will promote the territory as a
tourist destination.
Chamber of Commerce
president David Robinson said three of the four names of people
to represent the private sector on the ASVB have been submitted
to Gov. Togiola Tulafono for review.
The three names
are Roy J.D. Hall Jr., (representing the Chamber of Commerce)
and Tom Drabble and Derick Webb (representing the Pago Pago Visitors
Association).
Two members of
the visitors association and one from the Chamber are to represent
these organizations as board members on the ASVB, according to
the new law.
The fourth private
sector member must be someone who possesses at least five years
experience in the cruise ship industry and is currently employed
with, or owns a cruise ship agency service. This member may be
selected from individuals residing outside of the territory.
Robinson said
Betty Cavanaugh, owner of Pago Pago Tradewinds Tours, has years
of experience in the cruise ship industry and she currently provides
services for cruise ships that call in to Pago Pago.
He said this
is the only individual that he could think of to be nominated
but that's not the Chamber's decision.
The governor
will need to appoint representatives of the government sector
to sit on the seven-member board: one member from the Department
of Commerce, one from the Office of Samoan Affairs, and one from
the National Park Service of American Samoa.
Among its duties,
the board is responsible for hiring an executive director; reviewing
and deciding upon annual operating budgets, procurement and personnel
actions, and accounting and financial management policies; hold
regular meetings at least once a month; issue written advisories
and recommendations; and advise the governor on matters presented
to the board by the executive director.
The new law states
that board members are not entitled to compensation, special
benefits or reimbursements.
In approving
the ASVB bill, Togiola informed the Fono that it's his belief
that this measure represents a more serious approach to tourism.
He said tourism is a multi-million dollar industry that the territory
can certainly take advantage of.
"With the
proper mechanism in place, we can realize our full potential
in a relatively short span of time," the governor said,
noting that American Samoa could not have chosen a better time
to launch tourism development efforts, now that it is preparing
for the upcoming 10th Festival of Pacific Arts.
With the bill
now law, Robinson said the next step is for the governor to set
up a timeline of when changes are made within DOC's Tourism Office
in order to transfer functions, duties and other assets to officially
create the ASVB.
The law provides
that at a fixed date, all tangible assets formerly listed under
the Office of Tourism will be transferred to the ASVB. However,
it says that all outstanding liabilities incurred by the Office
of Tourism, including contracts and statutory obligations, shall
remain with DOC.
For funding,
the law states that the governor shall provide ASVB with funding.
Unspent funds that were allocated to the Tourism Office at the
time the office is dissolved will be transferred to the ASVB.
This will not include money specifically designated for salaries
for Tourism Office employees that will remain with DOC.
"Once the
governor makes the official declaration of the new bureau, then
the board can go ahead and start advertising for an executive
director, to oversee the bureau," said Robinson. "Recruiting
the director needs to be done as soon as possible because it
may take a couple of months to hire someone."
Reach the
reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
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