There was an increase in visitor arrivals in May, with the Samoa Bureau of Statistics recording 21,419, marking a notable 12.2 per cent increase compared to April 2026 and a steady 4.3 per cent rise over the same period last year.
Actual visitor arrivals accounted for the largest share at 15,772 travellers, holding a strong 12.8 per cent year-over-year growth.
Aviation remained the lifeline of the country's tourism infrastructure, with 93.7 per cent of the visitors arriving by air compared to just 6.3 per cent by sea.
Regionally, the Oceanic market dominated the landscape, commanding 78 per cent of all visitors. On a national level, New Zealand firmly held its position as Samoa’s primary source market, accounting for 51.0 per cent (8,041 visitors) of total arrivals. Australia followed at 21.3 per cent (3,358 visitors), while the United States captured 11.2 per cent (1,770 visitors).
Together with American Samoa, these core markets made up 85 per cent of all inbound travellers.
