IN a remarkable start to January 2024, the Western Province, particularly Gizo, has experienced a surge in the arrival of international guests.
Over the past two weeks, the provincial capital witnessed a significant increase in tourists from around the globe flocking to explore the township, Munda and other renowned tourism destinations in the province.
Adding to the excitement, Solomon Airlines resumed its first flight from Brisbane to Munda on Saturday, further connecting Western Province to international travel hubs.
Local accommodation and service providers in Gizo are bustling with activities as overseas visitors choose to immerse themselves in the unique charms of the region.
The residents of Gizo are thrilled to witness their town becoming a sought-after destination as tourists appreciate the local hospitality and picturesque surroundings.
This influx of visitors not only promises economic benefits for the Western Province but also underscores its growing appeal as a top-notch tourism destination on the global map.
Speaking to Solomon Star in an interview last Friday, one of the prominent leaders and residents in Gizo said that it is good to see visitors from all over the globe in Gizo town.
“This shows a very productive year for the tourism in the Western Province and country as a whole,” the leader said.
Another Gizo resident Terence Lamukera said, “we are so lucky that we are the most visited and tourism destination in the country, regionally and globally.”
As such, he said caring for the environment, the quality of service provided and behaviour towards visitors must be of topmost priority to safeguard the province’s tourism image.
“It is our time to embrace our rich biodiversity, cultures and tourism industry so that more visitors will get attracted to visit our township and the more visitors we have, the more revenue our country will earn,” Lamukera said.
Gizo Town has seen visitor from Germany and France in Europe and Australia and other countries.
Last year, Gizo town has taken out the top place in the Oceania section of the prestigious Travel Lemming magazine ’50 Best Places to Travel in 2024’ guide.
Adding even more lustre to the result, the Western Province capital also came in second in the magazine’s list of the best 50 places, Yucatán in Mexico got the number one slot.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
