SOLOMON Island Visitors Bureau (SIVB) (SIVB) says Solomon Island should not follow ways how Fiji and Vanuatu develop their tourism industry.
SIVB board chairman, Wilson Ne’e made this remarks during the one day cruise ship meeting organised by Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) at the Heritage Parke Hotel yesterday.
Mr Ne’e said, Solomon Island has its own unique culture which needs to be exposed around the globe rather than copying Fiji and Vanuatu way of marketing.
“I would like to tell this meeting today (yesterday) that Solomon Island have many unique culture still there that we need to promote it around the globe for tourists ”
“Most times we suggested to adopt marketing strategy how Fiji and Vanuatu, but that’s not supposed to happen because we have our culture which we need to promote it in our way rather than copying Fiji and Vanuatu,” Mr Ne’e said.
He further added that cruise tourism in Solomon Island is a new growing industry.
“Solomon Island is a new growing tourism industry and shortly we would have more cruise ships coming into the country.
“Some tourists who have visitied the pacific have informed me that they wanted to explore new destinations like Solomon Islands, therefore I would like to tell us here today that we need to prepare ourselves to showcase our culture therefore let’s not follow the way how Fiji and Vanuatu did their tourism, we need to do our own way to promote our culture to pull attract more tourist here,” Mr Ne’e said.
The SIVB board chairman thanked Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) government for the provision of funding commitment towards SIVB marketing strategy.
“I would like to thank DCCG for recognising SIVB by increasing funds this year towards our marketing strategy.
“This would help SIVB carryout marketing approach locally and internationally as well as organising events during cruise ship arrival in Honiara,” Mr Ne’e said.
By DENVER NEWTER