The Business End

THE SOLOMON ISLAND’ S visitation statistics speak volumes for the country’s thriving business scene, with 65 percent of all arrivals at Honiara International Airport listing their reason for travel as business.

This, combined with rising tourist numbers across the country, has led to tourism of all kinds playing an increasingly active domestic and international role in the country’s prosperous economic future.

“Tourism remains an economic saviour for the Solomon Islands and is now positioned as the one of the top six sources of foreign exchange,” says Mike Parker-Brown, the man in charge of global PR for Tourism Solomons. “The government has gone on record saying it sees tourism becoming a top two source of foreign exchange within the next five to 10 years.

“Priority is now being placed on tourism development and an effort is being taken to facilitate growth under the country’s National Tourism Policy as well as bring focus to bear on upgrading tourism accommodation and products.”

Combined with continual economic and infrastructure development that includes expanding road networks and a rising number of air strips, the Solomon Islands is crucially attracting more business and commercial travellers to its shores than ever before.