Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The answer is “YES” — at least for the month of August 2024.

American Samoans are not traveling to Samoa as much — according to the latest Samoa Bureau of Statistics travel numbers which show a drop of 60 percent. Reasons for the drastic drop were not part of the report.

On the other hand, visitor arrivals to Samoa in August showed the number of travelers from New Zealand soaring.

The Samoa Observer quoted the following statistics:

Figures for the August 2025 International Arrival Statistics showed a 27 per cent increase in New Zealand visitors, up by 1,906 compared with August last year. In contrast, arrivals from American Samoa plunged 60 per cent, or 988 fewer travelers. Officials noted that overall arrivals for the month stood at 22,977, a modest 0.5 per cent increase from August 2024.

Despite the overall stability, New Zealand’s dominance was clear. The country accounted for more than half of all visitors at 8,974, followed by Australia with 4,005 and the United States with 1,488. American Samoa contributed just 656 visitors.

The report showed that the majority of travelers were holiday-makers, with 9,190 entering for vacation. Another 5,546 individuals came to visit friends and relatives, while smaller numbers arrived for business, conferences, or sports events.

Visitor accommodation also revealed a clear pattern, the Observer reported yesterday. Just over half of arrivals, 50.8 per cent, stayed with relatives or in private homes, while 40.8 per cent checked into hotels or motels. Among hotels, deluxe properties led the market, attracting two-thirds of all hotel guests.

The report also highlighted that while August arrivals dipped seven per cent compared to July, the year-on-year growth suggests Samoa’s tourism industry is regaining steady ground after the pandemic downturn.

The Samoa Bureau of Statistics compiles international arrival data each month using immigration records at Faleolo International Airport, Apia Wharf, and Fagali‘i Airport.