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Samoan beach fales in areas worst-hit by this week's tsunami were a model for Pacific development, breathing life into rural areas and giving young Samoans something to stay for.
That was until Wednesday .
Now some villagers do not know if they can bear to rebuild their livelihoods - though tourism experts say it is the mainstay of the local economy.
Regina Scheyvens, a Massey University researcher who specialises in Pacific tourism and economic development, said tourism was the main source of income for villages and it was sad to hear survivors say they didnot know if they would or could rebuild.
She published a study this year extolling the virtues of beach fales in Lalomanu and other villages in the south and southeast of the main island, Upolu - the areas worst hit by the tsunami.
Officials have put the preliminary cost of damage to resorts, family homes, roads, powerlines and water supplies at US$36 million ($50.4 million) and rising, leaving aside the human toll of the dead.
Dr Scheyvens said the beach fale industry "was ... giving Samoan families the opportunity to have a sustainable livelihood while living in their home area".
"Tourism in Samoa was something special. It wasn't ever the rich, white tourists who go and sit on a sun lounger by the pool and snap their fingers and expect [to be served]."
Brent Thomas, retail director at the House of Travel, said based on previous disasters in other countries, bookings in parts of Samoa not damaged by the tsunami would bounce back within six weeks. How the damaged parts fared would depend on how quickly devastated infrastructure could be rebuilt.
"Until major infrastructure is rebuilt you're going to have difficulty getting bookings."
Dr Scheyvens said tourism was Samoa's biggest earner, estimated at US$70 million a year. In the past two years Samoa had risen through the ranks to become the third most popular destination in the Pacific.
Before the disaster elders were rapt to see young people choosing to stay and work at home, rather than leaving for Apia, Auckland or Sydney.
She said it was a much better model for locals than the large resorts in countries such as Fiji.
"These were small-scale family-owned establishments ... they were basic but comfortable beach fales and they attracted a different sort of tourist," she said. "People ended up feeling like a part of the family."
Those lasting connections could help rebuild the industry. "I think tourists will go back once they realise they can make a contribution."
Dr Scheyvens, who studied the Maldives after the 2004 tsunami, said tourist numbers would be well down for a year before recovering fully.
"As long as there is no second disaster, people will be okay."
About 40 per cent of annual tourist demand was diaspora returning to visit family and friends and that would not fall away, she said.
Rebuilding efforts might consider moving accommodation to higher land, but tourists loved the beachfront fales, she said.
The National Disaster Council said the worst damage was to resorts, family homes and community buildings, roads, powerlines and water supply located along the coastline of the affected areas. A thousand families were homeless.
- additional reporting: Agencies
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
