Samoa has announced it is reopening to tourists on 1 August 2022
Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways have scheduled regular flights and more flights are expected to be announced from Australia.
Ross has been in Samoa from 29 May, preparing to open and ensuring the accommodation providers we use are ready. Read his report on Savaii here.
We have a number of enquiries already and are expecting the rest of this year to be steady. It is looking likely that Easter and all the school holidays next year will be booked out by the end of this year.
Covid Restrictions and Consequences
Samoa has achieved high vaccination levels, and like New Zealand, Covid is circulating, but is not devastating the population. While the Government recognises the need to open for business, most of the people are still adapting to the change from “Covid is deadly” to “we have to learn to live with it.” As a result, some changes in border rules are being announced as the Government feels the country is ready to accept them. On June 10 the government announced that the following rules will apply:
- A supervised RAT test will be required before departure ($40 at NZ pharmacies)
- Travellers must be vaccinated
- PCR test on arrival (free)
- Free Rat test on day 5 (easy to arrange at regional hospital/clinic)
- No isolation requirements
- No testing requirements for arrival back in New Zealand (Changes due on 31 July 2022)
Insurance covering rescheduling flights and medical cover is readily available. A number of companies are also covering additional accommodation and incidental costs in the event of getting Covid.
The rules will keep changing – and we feel that restrictions will ease further. Check the latest rules here.