Transcript SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT - United Nations Office for

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism development
By
Bunyan Sivoro
Director of Tourism
Ministry of Culture & Tourism
Outline
 Introduction
 Profile of Solomon Islands
 Tourism sector performance
 Challenges
 Opportunities
 Conclusion
Location map
Location
Profile of SI
 Third largest archipelago in the South Pacific
 Consist of 992 Islands of which, 6 are the major ones
 Divided into 9 provinces
Politically
 Independent – Parliamentary Democratic Government.
 Prime Minister – Head of Government and Queen as head
of State represented by the Governor General
Profile of SI
Population
 About 600 thousand people
 Melanesian, Polynesian & Micronesian
Major economic sectors
 Forestry/logging, Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
 Contribute more than 80% of total GDP
 Tourism is next economic alternative sector
 It provides the greatest opportunity for sustainable
development unlike these extractive industries and the
government has realised this fact.
Tourism sector performance
Tourist arrivals in the Pacific
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
2010
300,000
2011
2012
200,000
100,000
0
Getting to the Solomon Islands/Air
accessibility
 The Solomon Islands is served by five airlines:
 Solomon Airlines (the national airline) serves the following
international destinations:
o Brisbane (Australia) four times a week;
o Nadi (Fiji) four times a week;
o Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) once a week;
o Port Vila (Vanuatu) once a week.
 Virgin Australia flies twice weekly from Brisbane.
 Fiji Airways serves Nadi and Port Vila via Honiara once weekly.
 Air Niugini operates three weekly flights from Port Moresby.
Economic significance of tourism
 Estimate to have generated 501
million SBD in 2013
Around 5.3% of total GDP
 Around 4.5 % total employment
Major source market
 Australia
 New Zealand
 USA
 Europe
Key Challenges
 Tourism Vs Extractive industries (eg. Logging and mining)
 Lake Tengano World Heritage site under threat of being
deregistered due to logging activities.
 Mining prospecting on the Guadalcanal Trek – which is
believed to have rich bio-diversity including some endemic
flora and fauna species with more yet to be discovered.
 Exacerbated by the fact that more than 80% of the land in
SI is customary owned. Land/resource owners are lured by
the short term benefits (quick $$$) provided by the logging
& mining companies.
Opportunities
 A high untapped potential for growth. Not fully exploiting
the potential provided by its natural, cultural and historical
assets and attractions.
 Our key sustainable point of difference lies in the country’s
island geography, pristine environment and diverse
traditional culture including the friendly people.
 Increased support and recognition from the national
government.
 Learning from others experience
 10 YFP Sustainable Tourism Program
Conclusion
 Involvement of local people in the entire development
process vital for achieving sustainable tourism development
as they are the owners of most of the tourism resources.
Thank you !!!