Tourists were warmly welcomed with traditional dances, shell money-making demonstrations and more
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
Villagers in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province, have benefited from a visit by a tourist vessel to the Busu Shell Money Cultural Village on Thursday 16th April 2026.
The vessel, Hanseatic Inspiration, carried about 180 passengers, mostly from Germany and Switzerland, as part of a cultural tour aimed at experiencing local traditions.
The ship arrived in Malaita after spending several days in Western Province and Honiara.
During the visit, tourists were warmly welcomed with traditional Langalanga dances, shell money-making demonstrations, and displays of shell products crafted by local villagers.
Highlights of the tour included demonstrations of shell money production and bridal gift ceremonies, offering visitors valuable insight into local marriage customs.
Tourists also witnessed artificial island building, a unique cultural practice found in parts of Malaita.
A villager, Mr Michael Wale, said the visit provided an important opportunity to showcase their culture while earning income from locally made products.
He said villagers earned money by selling shell money, handicrafts, food, and through cultural performances.
Reports indicated that after a day of business, many villagers rushed to the bank on Thursday to exchange foreign currency earned from tourists.
However, the bank was unable to continue foreign exchange services due to heavy withdrawals on the same day.
Villagers expressed their gratitude to Authentic Malaita Tours for bringing the tourist vessel to their community, describing it as the first such visit since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tourism brings economic opportunities and helps preserve our culture. After COVID-19 stopped everything, we are happy it is starting again,” one villager said.
They also called for more tourist visits in the future to support rural livelihoods and cultural activities.
ENDS
