Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) is lifting its image in the Australian market this year with a series of tourism marketing and promotional activities.
 
General manager Michael Tokuru said the bureau would take part in trade/travel shows in Melbourne in February, Sydney in March, and Auckland in May 2006.

“Although it is highly unlikely we will participate at the ITB 2006 in Berlin, Germany in March due to budget constraint and manpower shortage, we have registered our interest to participate at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart in Hong Kong in September 2006," Tokuru said. "And we will be represented by Pacific Islands Center (PIC) Office in Tokyo at the Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo in April 2006 and again at the JATA Trade Fair in Tokyo in September 2006.

He said the bureau was also replenishing its depleting stocks of promotional materials and collaterals, and would soon take delivery of a new Visitors Guide 2006, new Promotional CD and brochure, 30 new high-resolution photo images, and a new Tourist Souvenir Map of Solomon Islands.

“We are optimistic our plan for an increase in tourism marketing and promotional activities in 2006 will go along way to achieving our stated marketing goal and target that of lifting tourist arrivals to the 1998 peak level of over 15,000 per annum during the next three to five years (2005-2009)," Tokuru said.

"We have noted the growth in tourist numbers in 2004 and in the third and fourth quarter of 2005 and we are optimistic we will achieve our marketing goal and target during the period."

He said the return of law and order in the Solomons had helped rebuild consumer confidence. In addition, the country had benefited from improvements at Honiara International Airport, an increase in international flights and upgrades by tourist operators throughout the country.

“We also acknowledge, however, that more needs to be done in key areas including upgrading of existing airfields throughout the country, providing cheaper international airfares, improvement on domestic air services, providing conducive investment policies, vibrant financial services, and increase funding for SIVB.

"Only then will Solomon Islands realize its full potential in the world’s fastest growth industry – tourism’."