A Four days tourism training funded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was held in Marau, East Guadalcanal over the weekend.
The training kicked off on Thursday and ended successfully on Saturday with final recommendations and word of thanks between them.
Senior Research Tourism officer of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), Laurie Leketo told the Solomon Star yesterday that during the training both operators and intending operators have learnt a lot about tourism & hospitality services, specifically in what types of potential tourism businesses they can venture into apart from just building accommodation.
“ Further to that, the training also help existing operators to raise their accommodation standards and also provide more activities for visitors to Marau.
“Marau is already an ideal place; we just need to market the site and provide more activities for our visitors,” said Mr Leketo.
“ Marau also had their own marine protected area (MPA), they just need to do more promotion and marketing to visitors, both domestic and international”, he added.
Fred, Secretary of Marau tourism association and also an operator, told Mr Leketo in Marau over the weekend that the Ministry and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) must support their association and work together with the communities surrounding Marau to promote tourism, because they believe this is the only development that will benefit them more sustainably in the future.
An intended Operator and community voluntary, Ms Mareta Ohu who attended the training also recommended that the ministry must conduct awareness program for each villages so that everyone can be aware about the importance of tourism and reduce problems related to land dispute.
Ministry of Culture & Tourism and SIVB future plans is;
– To continue in training and awareness programs to communities surrounding Marau.
– A potential area for cruise ships, could promote cruising to Marau
– Marau was seen as potential for Family and Romance market in the future
By DENVER NEWTER
