Samoa Agritourism Policy Setting Worskhop 2016 Linking Agriculture and Tourism through Policy setting: Strengthening the local agrifood sector and promoting agritourism Workshop organised by the Government of Samoa and CTA in collaboration with PIPSO Apia, Samoa, 13-16 December 2016

1. SamoaAGRITOURISM POLICY SETTINGWORKSHOP
14 – 16 DECEMBER 2016
Apia
Papalii Sonja Hunter
Samoa Tourism Authority

2. introduction
Agritourism is a form of Sustainable Tourism
SustainableTourism UNWTO Definition:“
Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic,
social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors,
the industry, the environment and host communities"
Agritourism linksTourism with Agriculture in Agribusiness
“Setof policies establishingspecific guidelines,obligationsand incentivesto assist and
encourage farmers to diversify their entrepreneurial portfolio throughtourism and
hospitalityservices thereby fosteringthe developmentof Agritourism.”
• Agritourism linksand ensures usage of Agriculture Products and Services
• Agritourism refers topopular coordinated Agriculture Based Attractions and Tours
• Agritourism promote Agribusiness Value Added Personal Care and Health Products
andServices

3. Samoa Tourism Sector Plan
Samoa Tourism Authority roles and responsibilities are guided under the Tourism
Development Act 2012 which stipulates and provides for the sustainable development,
promotion and management of the tourism sector in Samoa through effective planning,
administration, regulation, and for related purposes.
1.1 Strategies for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2016-2020 – Ensure quality
product and service delivery through implementation of tourism operators standards;
strengthened linkages between tourism and other sectors of the economy; Support and
encourage the linkages amongst training providers to strengthen relevant training for the
industry;
1.2 Samoa Tourism Sector Plan (STSP) 2014-2019 – Overall lays the foundation for the
coordinated and sustainable development of tourism for Samoa. Increase linkages
between supply and value chains primary producers, handicrafts and tourism providers
through business support and facilitation by lead agencies including WIBDI, STA,
Manufacturer and Agricultural sector

4. Samoa Tourism Sector – Key Priority Areas

5. Sustainable Tourism ‘a National Development Tool’

6. 4ATourism
Coordination
Model

7. LINKsTO ENSURE USAGE OF AGR PRODUTS& SERVICES
1. Samoa,2015, spentSAT$214million (approx85 million USD)on the
importingoffoodproducts
2. 20%or equivalentSAT$43m(approx17million USD) directly attributedto
theimportof freshfruits,vegetables,animalandfish products.
3. InternationalVisitor Survey(IVS 2013)
Visitorsspend anaverageofSAT$269perday;andSAT$69is spentonfood
anddrinksperday.Visitorsaveragestayis 10 days.
4. Basedon 2015visitorsnumbers,SAT$96millionwasspenton foodand
drinks.An equivalentof26% oftotaltourismearning ofSAT$363million.
Source:MinistryofFinance & CentralBankofSamoaReports

8. Way Forward
1. ImportanttoWork Towardsthe establishment ofa SamoaAgritourism Policy
thatestablishes linkages andexcellent coordination thatMainstreams
AgritourismintoSectorDevelopment Plans toensure well coordinatedcross-
sectoralprogrammesthatupscalefarmto tablesuccesses (eg. WIBDI),
trainingofChefs to uselocal fresh produceandencourageresearch onvalue
addedproductsand usageinalltourism
2. Alltolead tothe achievement of relevant SIDS andSustainableDevelopment
Agenda2030 Resolutions.

9. Samoa Agritourism progress
Milestones
1. Me’aKaiCook Book (2010) ‘The Foods and FlavoursoftheSouthPacific’ byCelebrityChefRobertOliver Winnerof
theBest Cookbook intheGourmandCook Book Awards2011
2. Mea’aiSamoaCook Book (2013) ‘Recipesand Storiesfromthe HeartofPolynesia’.The developmentofaSamoan
cuisinecookbook designedto promotelocalfruitsandvegetablesproducedbycelebritychefRobertOliver,in
partnershipwithSTA andWIBDI. An AwardWinning Cook Bookofcuisinesfromthe traditionsand environmentof
Samoa.,withpracticalrecipes,that highlightlocalfarmers,chefs,restaurantowners andprovidestorieson
Samoa„sorganicplantationsand useof fresh localproduceby the tourismsector.
3. CulinaryTraininginthe regionby SPTO,PIPSOand CTA hasemphasisedmoreusageoflocalingredientsinlocal
restaurantcuisinesemphasisingthe Farm to theTable mission.
4. ThenewlyestablishedSamoaCulinaryAssociation(SCA) in2015 continuesto strengthenthe Farmto the Table
movement.
5. SCA traintheyouthtobecomecooks andbe familiarwithlocalingredients

10. Samoa Agritourism progress
Milestones ;-
1. Agritourism GuidedTours: Atotal of10 registered specialised tours which can cater for village/farms
guidedtours,fishing expedition, tours,etc
2. SamoaMinimum Accommodation Standards– The involvement of WIBDI as partofthe technical
committee further acknowledged and strengthened the agribusiness and organic farming initiatives as
well as farm totableproject;
3. HRD Culinarytraining(SPTO) in the lasttwoyears –Upolu andSavaii (50 cooks and chefs trained)
4. TrainingCalendar guided by the Tourism Training Task Force on food safety with all operators;
5. FoodAct 2015 promoted bythe Ministryof Health andGovernment Agencies
6. STAas one ofthe key stakeholders in the Agriculture Sector Committee
7. FloralGarden Toilets –Rest stops in strategic ruralareas encouraging biogas systems, handicrafts and
agriculturerefreshment stalls i.e. coconuts andfruits;
8. Thepriority attraction sites development plan tofurther compliment Agritourism tours andthe
Development of aTen Acre Agritourism National Park.

11. ValueADDEDPRODUCTS
• Nonu Juice – is locally made by a Samoan family to
enhanceNonu’s naturalpurpose of healing. It ispurely
made and it contains no water, chemical preservatives,
impurities, sugar, honey or dilution with cheap fruit juices
• Avocado oil is produced by SROS as acooking oilthat
contributes towards promoting healthyeating and living
for Samoan people.
• Taro/banana/breadfruit chips

12. MISILUKISKIN CAREPRODUCTS

13. AGRITOURISMACTIVITIES
• Swimmingwithturtles atSatoalepai
• LotofagaTilapia Farm
• Samoa International
Game Fishing
Tournament

14. Thank you & GodBless!