Creating Skills for life
Built-Enviroment

2013 NEWS ARCHIVE

‘The Fun Day Out’ – APTC Tourism students host a tour in Samoa

Jun 21, 2013

Last month the Samoa APTC Tourism students staged their semester assessment activity and student event - ‘The Fun Day Out’.

Plans for the full day sight-seeing tour, for 80 people, started six weeks prior to the event.  Plans involved investigating the island of Upolu’s natural and built attractions - assessing their suitability and risk. Part of the risk assessment included a water safety plan. The students also planned for all the other tour requirements - the food, transport, sites, finances, bookings, ticketing, marketing and tour guide scripts.

The students then presented their plan to the campus manager for approval and comment before the marketing teams promote the tour to fellow APTC students and staff. The cost of the tour per person was $30 tala.

The tour was booked out quickly so students had to manage a wait list. Bookings included both international and Samoan students. Some of the Samoan student had never been to some of the tour sites in their own country and wanted to experience them with their fellow students. 

At sunrise on the tour day, the Tourism students were up doing the last minute preparations including food preparation to ensure the tour set off on time. At 8.30am, the two colourful wooden Samoan buses clattered off along the coast road. Morning tea was enjoyed alongside the waters of the Piula Caves.  Some people took the opportunity to have a quick dip.

Then it was off to Samoa’s foremost natural attraction, the To Sua Trench, with its daunting 30 metre deep ladder into the aqua waterhole and most beautiful ocean views and coastal walk.   Games, lunch and cultural show were served at Tafatafa Beach and the passengers relaxed in seafront fales to sleep off the rigours of indulging in team ball sports and over-eating.  One of the students even caught a fish!  Lifeguards in their vests patrolled all water activities during the day.

On the way back, afternoon tea was served at the imposing Bahai’i ‘Mother Temple of the Pacific’ where guests were able to explore the grounds and house of worship.

At the end of the day the buses trundled back to town with tired and happy day-trippers. Here are some of their comments… I loved the friendship and happiness of the tour guides. The tourism students were so confident and fun-loving. The dance show on the beach was great fun. I didn’t know Samoa was so beautiful. To Sua trench was amazing… a great day, and really well organised. I want to be a tourism student! A great day for all – students, staff and our tour guides – well done everyone !!

APTC is an Australian Government initiative in partnership with the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

APTC is implemented by TAFE Queensland (RTO 0275)

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