Mi Save Solo: Solomon Islands kicks off inaugural tourism exchange

Mi Save Solo: Solomon Islands kicks off inaugural tourism exchange

‘Mi Save Solo’ (I know Solomons) is the name given to the inaugural Solomon Islands Tourism Exchange, which is being held at Honiara’s Coral Sea Resort and Casino today!

Thirty buyers from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the USA are meeting with 30 local tour operators, dive companies and resort managers that represent product across the nine provinces and 347 inhabited islands that make up the Solomon Islands.

Most of the buyers will follow up the tourism exchange by taking tours to Gizo and Munda in the Western province, known for pristine waters and world-class snorkelling, diving and surfing, as well as visiting  Marau Sound and Malaita.

Image credit: David Kirkland for Tourism Solomons

Image credit: David Kirkland for Tourism Solomons

In conjunction with ‘Mi Save Solo’, the former ‘Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau’ has been newly christened ‘Tourism Solomons’ with an official rebranding being launched by Solomon Islands Prime Minister, the Hon. Rick Houd, tonight. Stay tuned for more on that tomorrow!

At today’s official opening, Tourism Solomon’s CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto said the essence of the post-tourism exchange tours is to leave all the buyers with a clear image that the Solomon Islands is very much a ‘series of destinations within the one destination, offering a plethora of very unique travel experiences’.

Buyers will also have the opportunity to attend the Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture (MACFest), being held in Honiara as part of the country’s 40th anniversary of independence celebrations.

Dancers from Fiji, New Caledonia, PNG, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu participate in this festival held just once every four years.

This event spearheads the Solomon Islands’ cultural festival calendar, which this year includes the following events:

August 7: 76th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal

August 13-15: Shell Money Festival, Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province

September 20-28: Roviana Lagoon Festival, Munda, Western Province

October 2-6: Solomon Islands Dive Festival, Guadalcanal and Central Province

October 31-November 1: The Great Western Fishing Tournament, Vona Lagoon, Western Province

Featured image credit: David Kirkland for Tourism Solomons

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