Dear Editor – Solomon Islands is described as a tourist destination waiting to happen, it has all the hall marks and we are more than often compared to Vanuatu and Fiji. The reality of development in the sector is slow and we have a long way to go.
The continuous free use of the word “potential” in most articles and descriptive writings linked to tourism in this country must be taken for what it truly means, in all seriousness this means more operators in all the sectors that form a worthy destination needs to occur.
Some of the success stories shared in the media including this paper have been assisted by the Solomon Islands Government (through relevant Ministry) or are business consortiums, company directors, retired individuals or returning nationals with money to invest that have ventured or expanded into the sector.
My concern is that the funding avenues annually or as per call for proposals do not seem to put emphasis or allow potential tourist operators to apply, there is also limited technical support and assistance to potential applicants. This has resulted in very few new establishments or even none worthy of attracting the spending clientele that Western Province and Central Islands enjoy.
I live in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province and have been waiting to hear about grants from our Government or any of its donor partners since 2014, to encourage and assist our people with potential sites or operations to apply including myself.
Sadly nothing has happened or there has been limited information shared with the public from the Government agencies tasked to promote tourism. All we heard of last year was that a community initiative focussing on bush excursions/trekking in the Wainoni area was the only establishment across Makira Ulawa Province that received funding, I stand to be corrected? This scenario I am sure is common place in the Solomon Islands.
I believe land, scenery, cultural experiences, trekking, bird watching, potential scuba sites, game fishing, surfing and an on par capacity to operate on various levels of tourist destinations are not an issue. With places like Three (3) Sister Islands, Santa Anna, Santa Catalina, Star Harbour, Ugi, Bio Island to name a few lying dormant, one begs for answers and speculation becomes common place gossip.
Santa Anna is host to the last remaining fully intact shrine in a village setting across the Solomon Islands and in the whole Pacific Region.
Star Harbour is well known for surfing, Tawaroga in Star Harbour has the longest left hand break in the Solomon Islands, surfed even by the touring Quick Silver team in 1998 with a good number of world ranked surfers. Bauro and Wainoni areas are one of the largest endemic bird areas in Solomon Islands.
Fishing on Bio Island and Three (3) Sister Islands is perhaps one of the best in the Solomon Islands. Makira is now the second busiest airline route after Western Province; so transportation is a thing of the past. Why nothing has happened in these sites remains a mystery?
The seriousness, creation of equal opportunities and fair distribution of resources is lacking in the tourism sector in this country. I also believe that emphasis or targeted approach to lagging Provinces should be a priority.
Without the expansion of potential operators increasing choice and leisure activities in country we will always have high prices entertained by existing operators in all facets of tourism and a total lack of understanding by our rural people on the expanded benefits of tourism.
Logging will continue to seem the only remedy to people’s struggles and take precedence especially in Provinces like Makira and Temotu where illiteracy, extremely low business employment sectors (opportunity to earn) and lack of general opportunities is prevalent.
Let us try and develop our destinations with the true spirit of making this country a tourist destination, the increase of available beds, type of facilities, focussed attractions and leisure activities once in place, will give worthy experiences, which I am positive; will attract the numbers in guests we seek naturally, Western Province is already proof enough of this.
Ian McKenzie
Kirakira
