𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰-𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Over 150 tourism representatives convened in Honiara this week at the ‘Tourism In Focus’ conference.

Minister for Culture and Tourism, Hon Choylin Yim Douglas, underlined the critical partnership between the government and private sector in driving the Solomon Islands' tourism expansion.

Hosted by Tourism Solomons at the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, the conference underscored the sector’s resilience and progress, which Minister Yim Douglas attributed to the collective efforts of industry stakeholders.

“Our government recognises the immense potential of tourism to stimulate economic growth, create meaningful jobs and improve livelihoods for our people,” the Minister said.

“(And) To demonstrate our commitment to this vision, the government has significantly increased its budget support this year to the tourism industry, this increased funding is strategically allocated to trigger growth in targeted areas and to transform the sector in line with our bold ambition of achieving 100,000 visitor arrivals by 2035.”

She said strategic initiatives are being implemented to meet these goals. These include product development and diversification, investment in infrastructure and accommodation, and aggressive marketing campaigns.

“The government is also focused on capacity building and training and fostering collaborative partnerships with both local and international stakeholders,” Minister Yim Douglas said. "It requires a collective effort—a partnership between the public and private sectors with each of us playing our part.

“Through continued collaboration, we can build a sustainable future for the Solomon Islands’ tourism industry. Let's continue to work together, with passion and perseverance, to achieve these goals and create lasting positive change,” she added.

She said achieving these ambitious goals requires active public and private participation in building a sustainable and thriving tourism industry.

Demonstrating this commitment, the government has significantly increased its tourism budget for the year, allocating funds to strategic initiatives to achieve 100,000 visitor arrivals by 2035. These initiatives encompass product development, infrastructure, accommodation investment, and intensified marketing campaigns.

Tourism Solomons’ Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke, led an in-depth marketing presentation.

Representatives from the National Association of Inbound Tour Operators (NAITO), Dive Operators of Solomon Islands (DOSI), and the Western Province Tourism Association also shared insights.

Hazel Harohau of Authentic Mala Tours provided the first-ever representation of Malaita Province’s emerging tourism sector, highlighting its potential and ongoing initiatives.

The ‘Tourism In Focus’ conference, themed ‘Expanding The Market Approach,’ marked a significant milestone. It featured a robust lineup of speakers and presentations that reinforced a positive outlook for the industry.

The conference successfully united industry leaders to strategize on expanding market opportunities, reaffirming the Solomon Islands' commitment to strengthening and transforming its tourism sector for long-term success.

Media Release | Tourism Solomon