The Effects of Tourism on American Samoa

Abstract

American Samoa continues to exist as a potent political reminder to the American people of the consequences attendant upon the formation of entangling alliances. The American-Samoa Treaty of 1878 remains as a legacy of the first evidence of imperialistic purpose behind the public policy of the United states, a public policy which culminated in the acquisition of Hawaii, the Philippines and Guam in the year 1898. Samoa today presents the classic picture of imperial neglect; a carelessly acquired protectorate which is only now beginning to show progress after 67 years of U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of Interior administration. The American government has sought a solution to the economic needs of the Samoan population since 1900. It is the intent of this paper to make a brief study of the most recent attempt to solve those needs-the introduction of a tourist industry. A study in depth may seem premature at this stage, inasmuch as this industry is a relatively new economic way of life for the people of American Samoa, but it is unusual to encounter an opportunity at an early stage to analyze an industry so closely related to western acculturation, yet seemingly so uniquely adapted to the potential of the Samoan people. The process of compiling statistics from the beginning of the industry of tourism and then analyzing the results of this compilation as the summary of this research should be of value to the future serious student of the Samoan’s cultural adaptation to outside influence.