Twitchers targeted in latest Solomons push

Happy young boy looking through his binoculars while outdoors - Copyspace
By Anne Majumdar


Birdwatching-related tourism is the latest focus for the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau as it seeks to drive tourism numbers in 2016.

The destination has take “firm steps” to target the niche market, including training a number of hand-picked local guides from Honiara, Guadalcanal, Isabel and Makira to properly identify various bird species and their sounds, use specialised birdwatching equipment and cater specifically to birdwatching tourists.

The three-day training sessions led by Australian birdwatching expert Phil Gregory of Queensland-based Sicklebill Safaris and SIVB marketing officer Brenden Mautoa include three field trips on Mount Austin, the Honiara Botanic Gardens and the Betikama Grasslands.

SIVB chief executive Josefa Tuamoto described the training sessions as critical for the destination to compete with competitors that are already placing emphasis on the niche market.

Describing the potential birdwatching represents as a major opportunity for the Solomon Islands’ tourism future, he said the training sessions were a further build on the investment the SIVB has made in this key niche area over the last two years.

“Birdwatching is huge the world over and birdwatchers will travel anywhere to catch a glimpse of a rare or unusual species,” Tuamoto said.

“With close on 300 species of birds in the Solomon Islands, 102 of which are endemic, we have recognised this niche area as representing a major drawcard for the international birdwatching community.”

Over the last two years, SIVB has spoken with birdwatching organisations and specialist tour operators in Australia and New Zealand and further afield in the UK.

SIVB - SI Birdwatching guides in training March 2016.jpeg

Pictured the newly formed and trained SIVB birdwatching tour guides (from left to right) Ministry of Tourism & Culture research officer Laurie Leketo; Isabel-based Maeholo Birdwatching’s Rodger Collin;  Humbere HomeStay’s (Kolombangara) Venty Maena; Betikama Grassland Tour’s Helix Samson; Bubuli Homestay’s Jared Kidia, Mount Austin Birding Tour’s Samson; Hauta-Nara Conversation’s (Makira) Joseph Waihuru and SIVB marketing officer, Brenden Mautoa.

 

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