TOURISM CROSSROADS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS TO BE ADDRESSED

-
The Tourism Industry in Solomon Islands is now at the crossroads and needs to position itself as a destination in the next 10 years either to grow at a passive rate of 9% or take a more conscious but aggressive rate of 15%.

Photo Credit: Zeri Leni  (Makaruka) Moro movement
Prior to a two-day National Sustainable Tourism Investment Forum, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo said “Tourism is a growing industry and one that is very significant to the future of the country’s economic growth”.

Mr. Parapolo says “Although there have been some improvements in the overall performance of the tourism sector in recent times, there is a need to take some concrete steps towards realizing the potential.”

Hosted by the National Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, the Forum will look at three key objectives.
  • To drive investor interest and confidence in the destination
  • To identify and address key impediments
  • To achieve 50,000 visitors and 700 rooms by 2027

Currently, the tourism sector records a total of 188 accommodation facilities registered with SIVB. This translates into a total of approximately 1,854 rooms and further translated into 3,685 beds inventory nationwide.

There are opportunities for further tourism investments to ensure the right capacity and quality to respond to market demand and increase in visitor arrivals.

The Forum set to start in Honiara on Thursday July 13 will gather both international and local tourism experts to discuss and share experiences on the conscious direction Solomon Islands is pursing towards realizing its tourism potential.

The theme for this Forum is “Invest to Preserve”.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is expected to formally open the Forum which begins on Thursday July 13 and will conclude on Friday July 14.


ENDS///

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more