Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After nearly 3-years of border closure due to COVID-19 restrictions, the local tourism industry — as well as the territory’s economy — is expected to get a major economic boost this year, with 20 cruise ships scheduled to call into the Port of Pago Pago this year.

Vendors that include tour operators and other businesses are looking forward to the cruise ship season for 2023, with April expected to be a busy month with five cruise ships scheduled to visit the territory just that one month.

During a vendors’ meeting on Wednesday, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau shared with those in attendance the cruise ship schedule as well as discussion of the logistics for cruise ship arrivals.

The schedule shows 20 vessels calling into the Port of Pago Pago this year, with the first one — the “Celebrity Eclipse” —  arriving on Jan. 23 followed by three cruise ships for February as well as in March. Five are scheduled for April, while only one for May, none for August, one vessel for September, four for October while November and December — each have one cruise ship each on the schedule.

All cruise ships visits are for a day only with a majority of them sailing in around 8a.m. and some of the vessels will be arriving on a Sunday. The number of passengers and crew on each ship are expected soon at ASVB, which is working with local vessel agents and cruise ship owners.

With on-going construction at the main dock, where are vendors going to set up for cruise ship arrivals? Three sites were discussed at the meeting: the Fagatogo Malae (which gets muddy during heavy rain), Suigaula o le Atuvasa in Utulei and the Fagatogo Market Place compound.

At the conclusion of the nearly one-hour meeting, the Market Place was agreed upon and this is the recommendation that will be made to the top management of ASVB, including executive director Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia who returns to the territory next week.

Vendors were also informed that the Port’s main gate will be closed to the public and therefore a secondary gate — which enters and exits into the secondary road that runs behind the museum — will be used by passengers exiting/ entering the main dock.

This information is important to tour operators, as they wait for passengers who plan on touring the island during their short visit to Tutuila.

No information was available yet during the vendors meeting as to how many passengers have pre-booked island tours with local operators.

ASVB officials emphasized to vendors, tour operators and others in the tourism and hospitality industries to work together. Additionally, register with ASVB and provided contact information, including email addresses.

“The first cruise ship on Jan. 20 will be a great test for all of us including the Visitors Bureau on how to move forward on the planning throughout 2023 after more than 2 years of border closer,” a longtime cruise ship vendor told Samoa News yesterday.

“With the main dock under construction, and other local issues, there are a lot of challenges to overcome, but we can do it,” said the vendor, who only responded to Samoa News questions, if not identified by name in the story.

Another cruise ship vendor told Samoa News that “in order for us to succeed, we all need to work together. It’s nearly 3 years since borders were closed due to the pandemic and it’s time to return back to business.”

Working together, the vendor said, includes all vendors, tour operators, ASG agencies and the community, “whose support is needed as we welcome passengers to our island-home”.

Vendors and others needing more information can contact ASVB at 633-9805 or visit their office on the ground floor of the Tedi of Samoa building in Fagatogo.