The second Bonfire Festival, held at the Heritage Park Hotel car park in Honiara on Saturday, 12th October, made a significant impact on the tourism, communication, and transportation sectors.
The one-night event attracted a large audience, including international visitors and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, who came to perform.
The festival’s organizer and founder, Jeremy Saeni, noted that many hotels were fully booked by foreign guests attending the event.
“During just one weekend, airlines transported many tourists, who in turn spent money in our local economy,” Saeni explained.
“The Bonfire Festival also allowed airlines to promote our country as a travel destination and boosted tourism.”
Additionally, Saeni highlighted that Our Telekom, the event’s gold sponsor, experienced a surge in data sales in the week leading up to the festival.
Lynette Adomea, a Bonfire committee member and administrator, explained the difference between a concert and a festival.
“At a concert, you typically go to see a single artist or band. However, at a festival like Bonfire, a single ticket gives you access to performances by over 10 artists in one show.”
Adomea added that for many artists, participating in festivals is not solely about the money.
“It’s about sharing their passion and connecting with the crowd. The audience gets to see all their favorite artists in one place, on one night.”
Local musician Jaro shared his optimism about the festival’s future, emphasizing the collaboration that made it a success.
He hinted that future festivals might be hosted in the provinces but acknowledged that, for now, Honiara remains the ideal location due to its economic advantages.
“We’re exploring ways to bring people from the provinces to attend, such as using the Auki Express to transport fans to Honiara for the event,” Saeni added.
He describes the festival as a celebration around fire, much like traditional island customs.
“In our islands, we gather around the fire after fishing, cook our catch, and enjoy music and dancing. Bonfire recreates that same atmosphere.”
Jaro also emphasized the importance of giving back to the community. “We’ve created a platform to showcase our talents, and with the support of local businesses, we can highlight the importance of this effort.”
He noted that local artists and songwriters contribute to the national economy through royalties earned from platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes.
“We receive monthly royalty payments, and through that income, we contribute taxes to our country.”
In closing, Jaro expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the festival’s success, including sponsors, Solomon Islands National University (SINU) tourism students, sound engineers, musicians, and security officers.
By Raymond Hulanga,
Solomon Star, Honiara
