THE country has earned well over $500 million in revenue generated with the arrival of guests into the country in 2013.
This was highlighted by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his key note address to the 2015 Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting in Honiara, Thursday.
He said, since coming into power, the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) government has offered to raise the tourism industry in the country given its bright future.
“Since coming into power in late 2014, the DCC Government has pledged to support Tourism industry of Solomon Islands because of the potentials we have in tourism development.”
He said, the industry itself poses great potential for sustainable development in the country and that is why his government is committed to place great emphasis in growing the industry.
“In 2013, the figures showed that just little over 24,000 visitors came to Solomon Islands and they pumped over $500 million dollars into the economy.
“This is substantial injection of financial resources and if only Solomon Islands can raise the number of tourist arrivals in the country, we would acquire huge financial inflows.”
He said, the recently launched Solomon Islands National Tourism Strategic Plan is a forward-looking-plan that envisages robust development in tourism industry.
“It is a plan that embraces collective work with the private sectors. It is plan that believes on public-private partnership approach to development. It is also a plan that tackles key challenges and obstacles to development.
“It is a plan that capitalizes on opportunities by minimizing risks. I would encourage you all to create synergies to this plan so that we
