GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) is taking a tough stand on how it dishes out the tourism funds as of next year.
Director of Tourism within the Ministry Barney Sivoro in an exclusive interview with the Solomon Star yesterday said as of 2015 tourism operators who wish to apply for the tourism funds would be monitored before the funds are released to them.
The move comes following reports of abuse of funds by some of the local tourism operators.
Mr Sivoro explained in the past the Ministry would give out funds to tourism operators in the country to assist them without a monitoring them as to how the funds are being used.
“But come next year the ministry would change the system which means tourism operators who apply for tourism funds would be monitored first before his or her project can be approved.
“Any incomplete project would not be eligible to receive any fund,” Mr Sivoro said.
The tourism director added many tourism projects who have received funds from the government in the past have misused the funds and the Ministry has decided to change the way it issues releases the funds.
“And so as of next year the ministry is taking a different approach on how it releases the funds.
“Because it has come to our attention that some tourism operators who have applied for tourism funds have misused the funds and never utilised the money for the intended purpose.”
Recently the Ministry had also issued an ultimatum to all operators to retire reports to show they have spent their funds.
Failure to do will result in tough actions taken against the operators, the Ministry had warned.
Its understood the ministry will also kick off its nationwide project evaluation and monitoring as of next month and early next year.
By DENVER NEWTER
