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Tuesday 10 February 2009

38% growth for Solomon Islands

More travellers to the Solomons

Tourism in Solomon Islands has grown from strength to strength over the past five years. Latest visitors' arrival statistics for the first three quarters of 2008 shows total holiday travelers to Solomon Islands grew by 38 percent to 3,654 visitors compared with 18 percent growth for the previous three quarters. Australia and New Zealand market region contributed 49 percent of the total holiday travelers followed by North America (15%), South East Asia (13%), and South Pacific (13%).

Australia and New Zealand holiday market grew by 45 percent to 1,793 travelers during the first three quarters of 2008 compared with 8 percent growth for the previous three quarters. On the other hand, South Pacific holiday market registered the highest growth at 130 percent followed by Australia and New Zealand (45%), and North America (29%).

Overall, total visitors' arrival to Solomon Islands for the first three quarters of 2008 grew by 17 percent to 11,792 visitors. The majority of overseas visitors came for business and conference (40%) and holiday (31%).

Australia and New Zealand market region contributed 52 percent of the total visitors arrivals followed by South Pacific (21%) and South East Asia (12%). On the other hand, South Pacific market region registered the highest growth at 25 percent followed by Australia and New Zealand (20%) and North America (19%).

The General Manager of Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau said "Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau is happy with the country's performance in the first three quarters of 2008. The annual growth is expected to be higher when the last quarter figures are available which will include the start of Pacific Blue's flights to Solomon Islands in December 2008.

"Although visitor arrivals to Solomon Islands are still well below that of other neighbouring countries in the South Pacific, the steady annual growth over the past five years indicates that Solomon Islands is becoming more and more attractive business and holiday destination"

The tourism outlook for Solomon Islands in 2009 looks positive. Increasingly, holiday travelers from Australia and New Zealand are looking for exotic and short haul tourism destination in the South Pacific including Solomon Islands as result of the impact of the
current global financial crisis. In spite of the Australian dollar appreciating against the US Dollar and other major global currencies it is still very strong against the Solomon dollar which makes Solomon Islands an attractive holiday destination for Australians. On the ground, the Heritage Park Hotel which will provide an additional 204 beds will is scheduled to be opened for business in July 2009.

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