SI tourism a step closer in the European market

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Ms Helen Aumae picture with other tourism sector across the pacific island countries who also part of the ITB Berlin show

SOLOMON Islands Visitors Bureau’s (SIVB) second participation in the ITB Berlin travel show is described as a step closer for the country’s tourism in the European market.

From March 7-11, Ms Helen Aumae of SIVB participated in the world’s leading travel trade show in Berlin, Germany.

And according to the SIVB, more interest has been registered for Solomon Islands this time round.

This year, Solomon Islands through SIVB joined over 186 countries on the show.

They team up with regional tourism sectors to exhibit Pacific islands countries to visitors in 26 halls in the Berlin exhibition grounds.

Aumae said the event availed important opportunities for Solomon Islands tourism in its quest to increase visitor arrivals from Europe.

She said they understand Europe is a major source of market in today’s travel industry making it a very important market for Solomon Islands.

Aumae said attending the 2018 ITB Berlin is one of the marketing strategies that SIVB has in place for the European market.

“Our goal is to increase visibility and awareness of Solomon Islands as a suitable tourist destination to Travel agents, wholesalers, tour operators, media partners and the general European public as a whole,” Aumae said.

She also adds Solomon Islands appeals to the curiosity of many Europeans because they did not know of our existence prior to the show.

To them, Solomon Islands is a new discovery with many untold exciting histories, islands, sites, cultures and natural environment.

Joining the show also provides an avenue where they met with new buyers and some who are actually selling Solomon Islands on the ground across Europe, she adds.

“Through research, it is understood that Europeans have changed their travelling habits by opting for safer destinations; hence we present SI not only as a diver’s paradise or a place with rich history but as a safe destination for all visitors,” Aumae said.

SIVB Marketing Manager, Mrs Freda Unusi said Aumae’s participation is part of SIVB’s marketing strategy to European countries apart from Australia as main country’s travel destination.

She adds such approaches not only in European territory but other countries as well, and now through second time participation at ITB Berlin, Solomon Islands begins to be recognising in the Europe market.

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