SOLOMON Islands recorded only 737 visitor arrivals in 2021.
A statement from the National Statistics Office revealed that total visitor arrivals to Solomon Islands showed an increasing trend up till 2019 with 28,930 visitors.
However, the statement said the figure significantly declined towards 2021 with 737 visitors due to COVID restriction and measures imposed by Solomon Islands Government.
The National Statistics Office released the latest International Arrivals Statistical on Thursday 5th May 2022.
Government Statistician Douglas Kimi said a decrease of 83.4 per cent of visitors to 737 was recorded in 2021 compared to 2020 with 4,440 visitors.
“Returning residents account for more than half (72.2 per cent) of the total arrivals in 2021.
“This is followed by visitor arrivals with 26.2 per cent and intending residents with more than 1 per cent of the arrivals,” Mr Kimi said.
Mr Kimi said arrivals by category shows that returning residents and visitors make up the largest proportion of all arrivals, increasing from 97.3 per cent in 2016 to 99.1 per cent in 2019.
“A drastic decline of both categories was shown in 2020 and 2021 figures despite accounting for highest proportion of arrivals,” he said.
“Intending residents have declined from 2.7 per cent of all arrivals in 2016 to 1.6 per cent in 2021
“A decrease in Visitor arrivals was evident for all countries of residence in 2021 compared to 2020 arrivals.”’
Meanwhile, a significant declined was recorded for the following markets: Other Pacific (99.1 percent), other Europe (99.0 percent), United Kingdom (98.6 percent), Vanuatu (97.9 percent), and United States of America (96.7 percent) France (96.6 percent).
There were zero or no visitor from Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Netherlands and Italy who visited Solomon Islands in 2021.
Australians remain the largest group of visitors (45.7 per cent) to the Solomon Islands with a figure of 337 in 2021 although in absolute terms this was a substantial decrease compared to 2020 figure of 1,814.
