Solomon Islands surge

THE Solomon Islands is targeting further growth in tourism, with a delegation of travel executives in Sydney this week to meet with the trade.

Last year the Solomon Islands experienced a 7.3% growth in tourism visitation on 2015 ( TD Mon) but the destination isn’t planning to stop there.

Wilson Ne’e, chairman of Solomon Islands Tourism, said in Sydney this week that “current efforts are being taken to facilitate growth with the destination, update the country’s national tourism policy and bring focus on upgrading tourism accommodation and product”.

“Currently we do not have a Hilton or a Westin or a Sheraton or a Novotel but we are confident we will see one of the big guns moving in,” he said.

Among the key markets travelling to the Solomon Islands are diving enthusiasts, surfers, backpacker and ‘flashpacker’ segments, with the wedding and honeymoon markets beginning to develop slowly.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of battles fought during WW2 throughout the Solomon Islands, with Ne’e noting “the Guadalcanal battlefields are today some of the best kept battle grounds to be found anywhere in the world”, adding that there were a range of wholesalers providing packages to visit such sites.

Wilson Ne’e (third from right) is pictured with Victor Sharan (third from left) director global sales and marketing Solomon Airlines and the Solomon Islands team.