Tourism Industry ready for borders reopening as members receive Health, Safety and Disinfectant Training for Covid-19

More than 400 members and staff of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector have been trained with proper sanitizing measures, correctly use of disinfectant chemicals and application of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE).

Given the global pandemic and its effects, the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) recognized the need for a Covid-19 Health, Safety and Disinfectant Training to upskill tourism employees on health measures and protocols. The Authority worked in collaboration with Health professionals from the Ministry of Health in delivering this Training to ensure employees are highly protected from exposure and are well versed with measures in order to prevent spread of the virus or any airborne diseases.

The training is of great importance with the health and safety of employees is at the highest priority as they provide services in hosting guests travelling into the country from repatriation flights.

A total of 72 Tourism Industry Accommodation providers in Upolu and Savaii underwent the training within the past months.

The Chief Executive Officer of STA, Faamatuainu Lenata’i Suifua specified that as Samoa continues to receive repatriation flights, it is paramount to ensure the sector is well informed of the preventative procedures and health standards, and provided with continued support.

“The response from the Industry has been tremendous and the awareness programme is highly accepted.” Said STA CEO, Faamatuainu Lenata’i Suifua. “Though we do not have tourists from overseas but our properties are still catering to our local tourists while others are used as quarantine sites for our returning citizens.”

“The hope behind this initiative if in the future our borders are opened again, our industry is ready and well aware of the appropriate health measures.” Faamatuainu added.

There are also plans to continue this training for all the closed properties when they restart businesses.

Additionally, applicable disinfectant substances and PPEs were distributed to the various accommodation providers, who were appreciative and grateful for the equipment as they all contributed to achieving the training outcomes.

Trainings were carried out with Hotel and Accommodation providers including Beach Fales. Following this Training, the anticipation is also to reassure the confidence of local and overseas travellers and to stimulate demand for the Industry.

The Authority and Industry is grateful to the Government of New Zealand, for funding this Training under the Samoa Tourism Growth Partnership Programme.

Source : Samoa Tourism Authority, 5th March 2021