ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, HON. FATA RYAN SCHUSTER AT THE FINALS OF 23RD SIVA AFI INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. 21ST NOVEMBER 2025.

SAMOA, November 20 - Ou te muai faatalofa atu I le paia ua afifio mai I lenei afiafi e molimauina lenei faamoemoe taua.

O le taoa ota ia paia ma sa aua e le Gafataulimaina ese matou leoa

Ae o le a faga tonu ia le malama ma tautino le solo a le tamaloa e tusa o le faamoemoe o lenei afiafi ma o le a faaogaina ai le gagana faaperetania mo le faafaigofie ona malamalama ai tatou malo ma pa’aga ua tatou faatasi.

A pleasant good evening,

Distinguished and invited guests

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Talofa, Talofa, Talofa lava.

To say it’s a pleasure to deliver the keynote address at the Finals of the 23rd International Siva Afi Competition tonight is an understatement for me personally because of my personal ties to the Tourism Sector and Tourism Industry.

I grew up surrounded by tourism, visitors from overseas and as a witness to my mother Taulesulu Malifa’s commitment to serve our country through her Oceania Travel Agency.

Those were hard days but my mother never gave up and provided a life of opportunities. As always she prevailed and here I am, a humble and privileged to serve our country as your Minister of Tourism… Thank you mum…

Thank you, Faafetai tele lava Leota Lene and Mrs Claire Leota for this opportunity of a lifetime to finally acknowledge my mother……. and her beloved Tourism Industry. There shared role to build our Tourism Industry to where it is today.

For everyone’s information, Tourism revenues is among the top revenue earners for our country.

From July 2024 to June 2025, Tourism revenues injected close to $650 million tala into our economy.

That achievement came from the commitment, the vision and sacrifices by dedicated business minds like Leota and Claire who have worked together with our business Sector and Government for the country to reap the fruits of their hard labour.

Let us give glory to the Good Lord, as he continues to bless our Beautiful Samoa.

The Government through the Samoa Tourism Authority has supported various local programmes to help sustain businesses, and promote their products and services for the local market.

With that tremendous support we have seen our very own people invest in their own tourism businesses and it is a positive step towards paving the way to success.

The Tourism Industry has created initiatives of events and activities and one of the ongoing initiatives is what we are witnessing here tonight, the 23rd International Siva Afi Competition. It’s the second longest International Siva Afi Competition in the World.

While on the local front, the International Siva Afi Competition continues to be a major event in supporting our Teuila Festival and international events, through sustaining the talents of our youth over these many years.

Unique to Samoa, Fire knife dancing is a tradition rooted in our culture, and a means of maintaining Samoan identity with other cultures.

It has promoted Samoa throughout the world, and has blessed many families with their talented sons and daughters securing work opportunities to continually perform and entertain overseas.

And the Leotas are in that group of elite agents securing contracts overseas for our Samoan siva afi performers.

A fire knife dancer from Samoa is currently ranked in the top 6 after this year’s World Fire Knife Championships.

Students and graduates from the Matautu Siva Afi School of Learning are now performing world-wide, in Hawaii, the United States and Hong Kong…as flag bearers and traditional performing art Ambassadors of our Samoa.

Without a doubt, Siva Afi is definitely playing its part in preserving and promoting Samoan performing arts, and recognized as a leader in our tourism industry.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Ministers of Cabinets, Government and Samoa we commend Siva Afi for its life time commitment to the Samoan performing art of fire knife dancing.

And I personally congratulate Leota Lene and Mrs Claire Leota

Wishing all the competitors the very best tonight, with well wishes for an even bigger event next year for your 24th year of celebration.

The Finale for the 23rd International Siva Afi Competition 2025 is officially opened.

SOIFUA MA IA MANUIA.

November 24, 2025