BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela says tourism industry provides hope for country’s economy with aim to earn half billion this year.
Solomon Islands lies with untapped potential resources for tourism development including opportunities to beat logging industry.
PM Hou said, “Tourism industry provides hope for the economy and that hope is well placed, and that in 2018 we are expecting to earn half billion dollars in foreign exchange earnings.
“This target is very reachable and will greatly assist the country in addressing the issues of economic development, sustainable development and support social development such as mitigating urban drift by our youths.”
He explained to achieve the $1 billion target in the next five to seven years there is a need for a seismic change in the way we approach the industry.
“A total transformation is needed to achieve the exponential growth to reach the target,” he adds.
To achieve such target, Hou said there is a need for combined effort between government, the tourism industry private sector partners and overseas partners to realize this target.
“One of the key agenda for this seismic transformation as we go forward into the next 40 years is to re-look at how we position, promote and market ourselves as a favourable tourist destination,” he said.
Hou said with the forecasting of gradual decline in Logging Industry, tourism has been identified as potential industry to fill the void that will be left by logging Industry.
