If you’ve been waiting to go to Samoa, you’ll need to wait no more! (We chose to skip the rhyming wordplay. ) Samoa has been closed to international tourists since 2020, but is now ready to accept international visitors. Tourism is a huge business for the small island nation. The country generates more than 25% of its GDP from tourism. In 2019 Samoa welcomed over 200,000 visitors, with about 70% coming from Australia and New Zealand.
What’s Needed to Visit Samoa?
According to Samoa’s Tourism Authority, 93% of all eligible Samoans have been vaccinated and the country is actively taking precautions to prevent another wave. It appears that re-entry will be done in phases, with the lower-risk countries being first. The Tourism Authority also created an app for contact tracing.
Ruls to enter the country are fairly strict. Some that stand out are:
- All visitors 12 and over must be vaccinated to enter Samoa with two doses of a vaccine pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO). You’ll also need proof of this vaccination, so don’t forget to bring your cards. An electronic copy on your phone will not be accepted. The website gives more details.
- You will have to test prior to arrival. You’ll need a supervised rapid test within 24 hours of departure or a PCR test within 48 hours. Samoa is asking for a hard copy of the test, as well.
- Visitors must take a rapid test at an approved facility within three days of arrival. A positive test will result in isolating for seven days.
Fortunately these won’t be forever requirements!
How to Get to Samoa
The ways of getting Samoa are limited, which is not a change from 2019 when they were still limited. For this reason the reopening of Samoa will take some time. So, please keep in mind that things will be changing and evolving.
It’s recommended that you follow the Beautiful Samoa tourism website for the latest information. If you’re visiting from Australia or New Zealand, it’s probably best to search Virgin Australia or Air New Zealand. Also consider Fiji Airways or Samoa Airways.
