Samoa set for tourism boost following world title fight

Kevin Barry, heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker and Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Photo / NZ Herald.

Samoa is hoping for a knock-out result from one of its favourite sons tonight. But it is already guaranteed a winning outcome for its tourism business.

Kiwi heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker's big fight against Andy Ruiz will screen into more than 100 countries around the world, with promoters Duco say it has a potential TV reach of up to 100 million viewers - something that has Samoan tourist officials salivating.

The Samoan Government's decision to contribute about NZ$137,000 into the fight is widely considered a smart move by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

As a result, Prime Minister Tuilaepa will be given time in the ring, to make an introductory speech. The Samoa Tourism organisation will also get a number of television advertisement spots throughout the live tele-cast, as well as promotional banners ring-side.

Samoa Tourism NZ spokesman Sonny Rivers said the prospect of reaching a global audience for such a mammoth event was a marketing dream.

"Obviously, broadcasts like these ones - which go all around the globe - it's a really good channel for us to present ourselves out there as an emerging destination.

"The Super Bowl in America, people spend millions just to get their ads on TV.

"It's getting out there into the consumers' minds - and when they go to sleep, they dream of that place - Samoa. We're just trying to get people talking about it and thinking about it.''

A number of 30-second ads will be slotted in throughout the broadcast and will feature more heavily nearer to the main showdown.

The advertisements will feature scenic attractions throughout Samoa, promotional flights and accommodation deals currently available and some of the country's most beautiful resorts.

Rivers acknowledged the importance of attracting tourists to the Pacific, as it was a big source of income for the economy and therefore, its people.

He said they had seen similar tourist booms when reality television series Survivor Australia was filmed in the country earlier this year.

"As a marketing arm, we see these opportunities and grab them because they give us quite a huge return in terms of investment - from awareness, exposure and of course getting the world to see Samoa.

"It's not just New Zealand and Australia, but all across the world - especially in the States.

"That's definitely one of the main markets that we would really love to target, given the US dollar.

Rivers said they would be keeping an eye on the number of hits to their websites over the next week and on flight enquiries and bookings to Samoa in the next three to four months.