Green Tourism Solomon Island Ltd has successfully completed its week-long evaluation and inspection of four (4) eco-tourism properties on Florida Island, Central Island province last week.
The evaluation and inspection was conducted at four eco-tourism properties namely Roderick Bay Hideaway, Roderick Bay Beach Resort, Pota Saurangi Eco-Lodge, and Tapuipui Island Resort.
The inspection started off Tuesday last week with Pota Saurangi Eco-Lodge being the first to be inspected, followed by Taupuipui Island Resort. On Wednesday the team visited Roderick Beach Resort and Roderick Bay Hideaway.
On Thursday Green Tourism officials had the opportunity to visit Bonavesta Island and Kobuana Island where they officials met with landowners of Kobuana Island and discussed with them about a proposed holiday package that will include them.
Green Tourism Solomon Island Ltd managing director Micheal Tokuru and marketing manager John Kuvi conducted the inspections and evaluation.
Ministry of culture and tourism provided fund for the assessment to allow Green Tourism to inspect and evaluate these properties since these establishments will be included in a proposed holiday packaging project.
Mr Tokuru told the Solomon Star during the trip last week that these properties must able to meet certain standard requirements before they can be able to be included in the packaging project.
“We did inspections, ratings of existing eco-lodges, rooms and beds, facilities, activities, day tours, logistics, rubbish disposal, malaria control measures, and security issues at these locations.
“We need these informations inorder for these eco-tourism operators to qualify in this packaging which Green Tourism will be marketing,” Mr Tokuru said.
He said packaging is important for every tourist because it would help them spend money at one time than spending more than what tourists expect.
“Packaging of properties is possible, but the very important thing operators must do before marketing their properties is to have conducive facilities.
“Every tourism business must have good proper facilities before we could able to market it overseas. We can’t able to market any establishment that is incomplete oversea, we must market properties that is completed and standard so tourist or guest can able to enjoy the environment and facilities rather than residing in an incomplete establishment,” Mr Tokuru said.
Following the trip a report will be produced which will be sold to overseas market.
This is part of encouraging more overseas guests into the country.
“We want to bring more tourists into Solomon Islands to make this country a tourist destination in the pacific,” Mr Tokuru said.
Meanwhile Green Tourism has acknowledged the ministry of culture and tourism for funding assistance toward this packaging project.
By DENVER NEWTER