KEY POINTS:
Despite a favourable exchange rate for tourists, visitor numbers are down for Samoa.
Ministry of Finance statistics show a 1.7 per cent decrease in the number of arrivals to Samoa in March 2007 against the same period last year.
Approximately 11,576 people arrived in Samoa during the month of March.
Twenty-five per cent of those arriving in the country were returning residents, the remaining arrivals a combination of business and holiday makers.
The reason for visiting A third of which were tourists, those visiting friends/relatives (43 per cent), business related activities (11 per cent), and sporting activities (0.8 per cent).
The most common length of stay was between 8-14 days; nearly two-thirds of visitors choosing to stay in private accommodation.
The most preferred mode of transportation to the country was by air.
More than a third of all visitors arrived from New Zealand, (33.9 per cent). American Samoa provided 23.3 per cent of all arrivals, closely followed by Australia (18.5 per cent).
- NEWSLINE SAMOA
