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Governor Togiola signs bill that establishes AS Visitor’s Bureau
On April 25, 2008, Governor Togiola Tulafono signed into law a bill that establishes the American Samoa’s Visitor’s Bureau (ASVB) as a semi-autonomous agency of the American Samoa Government that will promote the territory as a tourist hotspot.
Togiola told the Fono that he believes the measure represents a more serious approach to tourism, which he said is a multi-million dollar industry that American Samoa can and should certainly take advantage of.
“With the proper mechanism in place, we can realize our full potential in a relatively short span of time,” said the Governor. He added that the territory could not have picked a more appropriate time to launch its tourism development efforts, referring to ongoing preparations for hosting the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts set to be hosted locally later this year from July 20 – August 2.
The Tourism Development Act of 2008 is the Administration’s attempt to revive and jump-start the American Samoa economy, thereby paving the way to more financial independence and stability.
The ASVB, will be responsible for the creation of tourism policies and programs that will not only maximize the Territory’s tourism earning potential, but will also be sensitive to cultural and environmental preservation. The Visitors Bureau would create sensitive tourism policies and regulate tourism and its impact to the Samoan culture and way of life, in order to increase the contribution of tourism to the economy and facilitate the development of a competitive and profitable tourism industry.
Under the new law, two people from the visitors association and one person from the Chamber of Commerce are to serve as representatives of these organizations as board members on the ASVB.
The three people whose names have been submitted to the Governor for his review are: Roy J.D. Hall Jr., (Chamber of Commerce), and Tom Drabble and Derick Webb (Pago Pago Visitors Association).
A fourth private sector member must be a person with at least five years experience in the cruise ship industry and is currently employed with, or owns a cruise ship agency service.
This particular member may be someone who resides off island.
It is up to the Governor to decide who to appoint as representatives of the government to sit on the seven-member board. A total of three members are needed to fill this requirement - one representative each from the Department of Commerce, the Office of Samoan Affairs, and the National Park Service of American Samoa.
Under the new law, board members are not entitled to compensation, special benefits, or reimbursements.
Board members will be responsible for hiring an executive director, reviewing and deciding upon annual operating budgets, procurement and personnel actions, and accounting and financial management policies. In addition, the board is to hold regular meetings at least once a month, issue written advisories and recommendations, and advice the Governor on matters presented to them by the executive director.
Now that the measure has become law, the Governor is expected to set a timeline of when changes are made to transfer the functions, duties, and other assets that were once under the local Department of Commerce through the Tourism Office, to the newly formed ASVB.
The new law states that all tangible assets formerly listed under the Office of Tourism will be transferred to the ASVB, although all outstanding liabilities incurred by the Tourism Office, including contracts and statutory obligations, are to remain with the DOC.
The new law also states that the Governor is to provide the ASVB with funding, and all unused monies that were allocated to the Tourism Office at the time the office is dissolved are to be transferred to the ASVB. This however, does not include funds specifically designated for salaries for Tourism Office employees that will remain with the DOC.
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