Postgraduate Students Field Trip

by Aiga Schmidt / Wednesday, 22 September 2021 / Published in News, Student news

HDS500 – Development Theory and Practice students went on a field trip on the 11 September 2021. The purpose of this field trip was to provide postgraduate students the first-hand experience of the challenges faced by Samoa’s tourism development. This trip had two key objectives; the class will visit a cultural heritage site (fetu ma’a/ star mound) at Sa’anapu to understand the importance of preserving Samoa’s heritage as well as the possibility of turning the site into a cultural heritage tourism site & to visit two hotel accommodations severely affected by the 2009 Tsunami and currently impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown to understand the challenges faced by hotel owners. The postgraduate class also had the privilege to have Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale of Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa and Taufua Sili Apelu of Taufua Beach Fales as guest speakers, sharing their experiences of rebuilding their businesses after the tsunami as well as maintaining their businesses during this COVID pandemic. These visits provided opportunities to stimulate students’ interest in protecting cultural heritage sites and further understand the role tourism plays in the process of development in Samoa. Thank you to the owners of Taufua Beach Fales and Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa for your time and for the insightful presentation prepared.

Finishing off the day’s adventure with a lovely meal prepared by Taufua Beach Fales on Saturday night. Sunday off to a good start with our very own pastor, Rev. Malotau Lafolafoga leading the students’ and teachers in a beautiful Sunday Sermon. By mid-day, boarded the bus and said goodbye to the amazing people over at Taufua for their hospitality. Thankyou to everyone who made this 2day field trip amazing