Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism [MCT] and Tourism Solomons will be organising a meeting with event organisers to push for coordinated approach to National Events.
Organisers of established annual events have been invited to participate in this meeting scheduled for this Thursday where a number of events will be discussed.
The meeting will be held at the Tourism Solomon Head Office Boardroom, Mendana Avenue, Honiara
Background
Culture remains a central pillar of the Solomon Islands’ tourism identity, our very DNA, and events such as the Roviana Lagoon Festival, Shell Money Festival, Wogasia Festival and Tinakula Festival are now firmly established as some of the country’s most significant annual celebrations.
Together with an ever-growing calendar of cultural, sporting, musical, religious and community activities, they showcase the Solomon Islands’ unique traditions, creativity and diversity, in the process attracting strong local participation and instilling a deep sense of community pride.
Increasingly, these events also play an important role in stimulating local economies by drawing visitors who contribute through spending on accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Supported by both government and commercial partners, these strengths provide a solid foundation on which to build a more structured, coordinated and market-ready approach to event promotion intended to provide even greater benefit.
However, challenges remain that continue to limit the effective marketing of events at both national and international levels.
Chief among these is the ongoing lack of early confirmation of key information — including dates, programs and locations — an issue that persists year after year and results in missed opportunities.
This lack of certainty has also hamstrung engagement with potential partners, such as airlines, wholesalers and tour operators, many of whom have expressed long-standing interest in developing event-based travel packages.
When events are well planned and promoted, they have the capacity to deliver meaningful and lasting economic benefits to communities and tourism operators alike.
But to fully realise this potential, stronger coordination, clearer timelines and a shared understanding of market requirements are essential.
Meeting with Event Organisers
To address these issues, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Culture Division) in partnership with Tourism Solomons has issued a formal invitation to organisers of established annual events to participate in a dedicated engagement meeting taking place this Thursday.
The meeting will focus on confirmed annual events across cultural, music, sporting, MICE and religious categories, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and improving planning outcomes.
The meeting will also reinforce the supportive role that the ministry and national tourism office can play in marketing and promotion, while clearly outlining the commitments required from event organisers to enable effective promotion to both domestic and international audiences.
The ultimate aim is to jointly develop a practical blueprint that preserves cultural integrity while ensuring events are market-ready, well-coordinated and positioned to deliver long-term benefits for communities and the wider tourism industry.
Event organisers interested in attending the meeting need to confirm their attendance by Wednesday to Ms Joycelyn Irobina at the tourism office.
– Tourism Solomons
Attached image: Wogasia Festival Warrior, Santa Catalina Ilands, Makira-Ulawa Province.
