BY ALICE T CAMPBELL
The Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Choylin Yim Douglas has officially opened Phase One of the new Zaru Hotel in Gizo, marking a milestone for tourism development in Western Province.
A statement from Tourism Solomons said the hotel comprises of 16 guest rooms, has a fully equipped conference facility and commercial rental spaces.
This sets the hotel at a new level.
“…the new hotel is seen as establishing a new standard of hospitality infrastructure in Gizo and expected to play a role in helping to boost tourism, business travel and events in the Solomon Islands’ main tourism corridor,” said the statement.
Tourism Solomons said the addition of conference facilities is particularly significant, as it will open new opportunities for meetings, workshops, and small-scale events in Western Province, an area traditionally known more for leisure tourism than business travel.
Speaking at the launching of the hotel, Minister Douglas said Zaru Hotel will boost employment opportunities for local residents and stimulate increased spending in the local economy.
She also paid tribute to Zaru Hotel owner, Mr Jacob Kwan, saying that the development sends a clear message across the country that high-quality tourism infrastructure is achievable, and local investors can lead transformative projects.
“As the industry continues its recovery and transition toward long-term growth, projects like Zaru Hotel reflect a shift from resilience to renewal.
“What stands before us today is not just another accommodation facility. Zaru Hotel represents a significant step forward in raising the standard of hospitality in the Solomon Islands.
“This type of development is exactly what we need to boost both our domestic and international tourism.
“Tourism is a priority sector for economic growth and diversification. “We want to see more quality rooms. We want to see better standards. We want to see local investors taking the lead in shaping the future of our tourism industry,” she said.
Meanwhile, welcoming the news of this new hotel, Tourism Solomons’ Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke said the hotel is a timely and strategic addition to Western Province’s accommodation portfolio.
“Zaru Hotel strengthens Gizo’s ability to meet growing demand from both international and domestic markets.
“As we continue targeted marketing in Australia, New Zealand and other key source markets, having quality room stock in destinations like Western Province is critical.
“This development enhances our destination credibility and supports our message that the Solomon Islands offers authentic experiences backed by reliable, comfortable and affordable infrastructure,” he said.
Photo credit: Tourism Solomons
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
