COVID-19 restrictions in Samoa have seen a decline in visitor numbers as well as a drop in remittances from overseas.
Samoa Observer says a report on Visitor Earnings and Remittances for February 2020 compiled by the Central Bank of Samoa, Samoa Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry for Revenue, shows a dramatic drop in visitor arrivals before the complete closure of the country’s borders on March 24.
The report said visitor numbers fell by 22 percent compared to February 2019.
“The decline is attributed mostly to what were then emerging restrictions on travel to and from countries affected by the global coronavirus pandemic,” said the report.
Samoa had by February started to cap incoming passengers and also placed restrictions on visitor arrivals from countries and territories affected by the pandemic.
All major sources of visitors recorded a drop. New Zealand was down 726 visitors, American Samoa down 554, Europe down 151, USA down 115 and Australia down 63 visitors while all others down 382 visitors.
The report said remittances from overseas painted a mixed picture.
“Remittances grew by 9.5 percent to reach $42.8 million, when compared to February the year prior. But when compared to January of this year, that amount represents a drop of 7.9 per cent or $3.9 million,” said the report.
Global reports suggest that the remittances market has shrunk dramatically alongside the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic prompting caution from some economists that Samoa’s economy could be threatened by an overreliance on remittances.
Photo: Talamua Media
