A THREE-DAY training for eco-tourism operators of east-central Guadalcanal held at Bikubole Eco-lodge will end today.
The training, started Tuesday, focused on awareness and project establishment.
Facilitator and director of Guadalcanal Eco-tourism Development (GED) Edison Saeni said the purpose of the training is to give awareness to the local operators and equip them with necessary skills and knowledge in terms of project establishment.
He said eight local operators participated in the training.
“The participants enjoyed the training,” he said.
Mr Saeni added the participants were motivated to establish eco-tourism related projects.
Topics covered includes safety control, basic planning, landscaping and floral, communication, customers service, waste management, eco-tourism overview, introduction to eco-tourism, tourism characteristics, tourism local environment planning and establishment of local tours, ecotourism management and hospitality.
He added that it was interesting to see people start to show great interest in the tourism sector.
“The purpose of boosting this sector (Eco-tourism) is to do away with destructive activities like logging and mining,” Mr Saeni said.
Guadalcanal Eco-tourism group was established in 2012.
Mr Saeni said the aim of the organization is to preserve and conserve traditional heritage and natural resources for future generations.
“This is a friendly environmental development we want to promote,” said Mr Saeni.
Meanwhile, he said there are currently 64 operators around Guadalcanal – 30 permanent while 34 are affiliates.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
