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Solomon Islands get serious about tourism

It's one of the South Pacific's less explored destinations but the Solomon Islands' government has a big plan to turn that around and drive more visitors to the island nation.

It’s one of the South Pacific’s less explored destinations but the Solomon Islands’ government has a big plan to turn that around and drive more visitors to the island nation.

Solomon’s Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, unveiled the five-year National Tourism Development Strategy (SINTDS) this week. It focuses on developing the nation into a unique tourist destination to increase tourism sector development and entice international visitors.

It comes only a few weeks after the destination’s national airline, Solomon Airlines introduced a second direct service between Australia.

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It also follows the recent truce with the Fijian government that allows the islands’ airlines to fly between the two destinations.

A spokesperson for Solomon Airlines told KarryOn earlier this year, that the dispute with Fiji, which lasted some six months, impacted arrivals – dropping from 6,195 during the second quarter 2013 to 4,908 during the same period 2014.

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He explained this was largely due to a drop in arrivals from the USA who visit via Fiji. The fallout made it difficult for travellers to add on the trip to the Solomons.

Seeing an opportunity to build the sector once again, the government unveiled the SINTDS.

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The plan will follow five steps starting with marketing and research, followed by developing transport and infrastructure; product development and investment; human resource development; and attract cruise ships and yachts.

By 2019, the country’s tourism leaders hope tourism will generate over $700 million for the economy, increase the number of those employed in the workforce to 30,000 and increase the total number of arrivals to 32,500 (a 9.2 percent growth per year).

The island nation is also aiming to increase the size of the holiday market to 12,500 arrivals and increase the number of cruise ship visits to 28 per year.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare cautioned that even with relatively modest growth at the levels proposed in the SINTDS – a nine percent growth within the next five years – achieving targets will require sustained commitment to the strategy backed  by strong leadership, increased investment and additional government and donor resourcing.

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto said the industry was up for the challenge.

“Given the Solomon Islands’ traditional sources of wealth are now well into ‘sunset’ mode, tourism growth has become a priority area for the economic and social well-being of the country.”

Josefa Tuamoto, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau CEO

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“For us as industry players, having the government make this major commitment to tourism tells us where we want to go.

“The SINTDS has been extremely well researched with key drivers identified. It is now time for the Solomon Islands to take the next step and make those aspirations a reality.”

Have you visited the Solomon Islands?