Laid off tourism sector workers currently enrolled in courses at the National University of Samoa recently visited Fuipisia Waterfall and Namu’a Island as part of their course assessment.

The workers have signed up to the Tourism and Hospitality Certificate II in Tour Guiding course at the university, which is part of Phase 2 of the Government’s Stimulus Package for the industry.

The Samoa Tourism Authority, which is coordinating the course in partnership with the N.U.S. management, says in a statement that the course wouldn’t have been offered without the Government’s funding support.

As part of the students’ course assessment, they took a field trip to Fuipisia Waterfall and Namu’a Island.

The S.T.A. contends that planning is crucial in tour guide programs, therefore the purpose of the field trip was to get the participants to familiarise themselves with Samoa’s natural attractions, while liaising with site managers. 

The N.U.S. and S.T.A. tour guide class of 2020/2021 comprised 14 participants from the tourism Industry who represented the organisations such as the Salani Surf, Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Mt. Silisili and the Samoa Cultural Village.

The participants in the field trips to Fuipisia Waterfall and Namu’a Island found the familiarisation trip beneficial, which they said enabled them to continue to support the industry while being resilient in the difficult times.

The S.T.A. management is also of the view that the training opportunities offered under the Government’s stimulus package were rolled out without much hassle with the training providers at the university meeting the requirements that are considered crucial in delivering quality training.

It is understood the tourism-focused courses at the N.U.S. will continue to run until June this year.

Over 700 tourism workers who were affected by an industry-wide shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have benefited from a Government-supported upskilling program.

The courses that the workers are doing are tailored around the needs of the tourism sector and aim to boost quality visitor experience in Samoa, as the struggling industry prepares for the re-opening of international borders.