Samoans’ preference for hotel room air conditioning over seaside beach fales is hurting local operators, says a beach fale owner in Savai'i.

Lauititi Tooalo of Tailua Beach Fales told the Samoa Observer that her business was affected more than the other operators and they made more money from “palagi” (Samoan term for a white non-Samoan person) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The overseas market was working better for us, now there are no palagi, I see that even the Government cars pass us and I know most Samoans don't want to stay in beach fales,” Mrs Tooalo said in an interview.

“They prefer air conditioning.”

Since the pandemic most resorts have dropped their prices to half which means the beach fales have had to drop their rates even further. 

Another beach fale owner, 85-year-old Leilua Faamatuainu Mailei who owns the Satuiatua Beach Fale, said that her fale rate starts at $40 tala with bed and linen, and she adds to that cost for someone who wants to dine in.

“The problem is sometimes people don't book for breakfast but we are far from other services so they end up booking breakfast late, and we have to cater to it anyway because it is our business to do so,” she said. 

“People do not know how difficult it is to do things at the last minute.”

Another tourism operator, Gabrielle Tuatagaloa of  Le Lagoto resort, noted the approaching 29th anniversary of the resort in October this year.

The resort was established in 1993 with only four self-contained units at the time with a small restaurant and bar with a further 10 bungalows added in 2006. 

But there is so much to do to prepare for the resort’s 29 anniversary according to the Administration Manager Malele Poai.

"We will definitely need more time to prepare our resort because there is just too much to fix,” she told this newspaper. 

“The air-conditioning, the beds, linen need to be replaced and other furnishings for the rooms.”

She also added that the resort has been fortunate to still receive encouragement from their returning guests, raising staff morale in what are challenging times for the tourism sector.

For Amoa Resort, it was a recipient of funding support courtesy of the Government’s stimulus package, though Manager Elisabeth Siaosi agrees with other operators including beach fale owners that the funds are not enough to really prepare the industry for the reopening of the border.

Yes, I am very grateful for the stimulus, it arrived at a good time so we used it to fix some things that needed fixing and also sustain us with salaries and so forth,” she said.

“But we don't just want a surviving industry when the borders open – we want a strong one.

“And with the money we have access to maintain our accommodations, it is simply not enough.” 

Despite the resort’s low cash flow, Ms Siaosi also alluded to the fact that many people and organisations in Apia were utilising the resorts in Savai’i.

"Our being in Savaii is why we are surviving COVID-19, we have been lucky because the Government has kept us protected and people are able to travel between islands so Savai’i resorts and accommodations can get the domestic market,” she said.