Ocean View Lodge Builds Local Tourism in Gizo, Western Province

BY SHOREYANN RAGOSO

In the heart of Gizo, Western Province, a locally owned tourism business is working to give visitors more than just a place to sleep.

Ocean View Lodge, owned by local businessman Reuben Jagilly, was started from his passion for tourism, hospitality and creating opportunities for people in the community.

For Jagilly, the lodge is not simply a business. It is part of his vision to help grow tourism in Gizo while making sure local people can also benefit from the industry.

“I started Ocean View Lodge with the vision of developing a locally owned accommodation business that could welcome visitors while also contributing to the local economy and community,” he said.

The idea for the lodge came from Jagilly’s desire to contribute to the development of tourism in Gizo and create a business that could provide comfortable accommodation and good hospitality to visitors.

Gizo is known for its beautiful marine environment, islands, culture and communities. Jagilly wanted to create a place where visitors could enjoy these attractions while also experiencing the friendliness of local people.

“Gizo has beautiful marine environments, islands, culture and communities, and I wanted to create a place where visitors could experience the warmth of our people while enjoying a comfortable stay,” he said.

From the beginning, creating employment and income opportunities for local people was also an important part of the business.

Jagilly believes tourism can provide benefits beyond hotels and accommodation. When visitors come to Gizo, they also need transport, food, activities, handicrafts and other services.

This creates opportunities for many local people and small businesses to earn income from the tourism industry.

“Over time Ocean View Lodge has grown from a local business idea into a hospitality establishment that is connected to the wider tourism industry in Gizo,” Jagilly said.

One of the things that makes Ocean View Lodge different is its focus on personal and local hospitality.

The lodge wants guests to feel welcomed, respected and at home rather than simply treated as customers.

Being locally owned also means the lodge is closely connected to the community. Visitors have the opportunity to experience Gizo from a local perspective.

The business places importance on cleanliness, friendly service, local food, culture and the natural beauty around Gizo.

For Jagilly, the memory visitors take home is just as important as the accommodation they receive.

“The experience I want visitors to take away is a positive memory of Gizo, our people and Solomon Islands hospitality,” he said.

“So that when they leave, they feel that they have not only stayed at a lodge but have experienced our community.”

Ocean View Lodge continues to promote local culture through its hospitality, local knowledge, food and interaction with the community.

Where possible, the lodge supports local suppliers and encourages visitors to experience locally produced food and products.

This approach helps create a connection between tourism and other parts of the local economy.

Local food producers, transport operators, craftspeople and other small businesses can all benefit when visitors spend money in the community.

Jagilly said tourism has a wider flow-on effect, with visitors spending money on different services during their stay.

“For me, success is not only about the lodge itself. It is also about creating opportunities for people in our community to benefit from tourism,” he said.

The natural environment is another important part of the lodge’s tourism vision.

Gizo’s ocean, reefs, islands and marine life are among its greatest tourism assets. These resources are important not only for visitors but also for the local community.

Because of this, Jagilly believes responsible tourism and environmental awareness must remain part of the industry.

“Our aim is to show visitors that tourism can provide economic opportunities while respecting our culture, communities and environment,” he said.

For Ocean View Lodge, protecting the environment is also about protecting the future of tourism.

The lodge recognises that visitors come to Gizo to enjoy its natural beauty and island environment. Maintaining these resources is therefore important for future generations and for the continued growth of tourism.

However, operating a tourism business in the Solomon Islands is not without challenges.

Jagilly said businesses face high transportation costs, expensive building materials, limited infrastructure, difficulties accessing supplies and changes in visitor numbers.

Severe weather events can also affect tourism businesses and their operations.

Ocean View Lodge experienced additional difficulties following Cyclone Maila, which affected the lodge and created challenges for its operations and recovery.

Jagilly said the experience taught him the importance of being prepared and adaptable.

“We have responded by being resilient, managing our resources carefully, working with our staff and community, and seeking support and technical assistance where necessary,” he said.

“These experiences have taught us that a tourism business must be adaptable and prepared for unexpected challenges.”

Despite these difficulties, Jagilly remains positive about the future of tourism in Gizo.

He believes the area has strong potential because of its natural beauty, marine environment, culture and island lifestyle.

He has also noticed that visitors are interested in more than accommodation.

Many want authentic experiences that allow them to learn about local culture, enjoy nature, take part in marine activities and interact with local communities.

This creates opportunities for tourism businesses to develop products and experiences that are connected to local communities.

Gizo can also attract different types of visitors, including domestic travellers, business visitors, international tourists and people interested in nature, culture and sustainable tourism.

“For Gizo to grow further as a destination, we need continued investment in accommodation, infrastructure, transportation, marketing, tourism activities and skills development,” Jagilly said.

He believes there are many opportunities for locally owned tourism businesses across the Solomon Islands.

The country has unique natural resources, cultures, traditional knowledge, marine environments and communities that can provide authentic experiences for visitors.

Jagilly sees potential in eco-tourism, cultural tourism, marine tourism, local food, handicrafts, community-based tourism and island experiences.

However, he said local businesses need support to take advantage of these opportunities.

“To help local businesses grow, we need access to affordable finance, business development support, tourism training, marketing assistance, infrastructure development and technical support from relevant government agencies and development partners,” he said.

“Local businesses should be given opportunities to participate more strongly in the tourism value chain.”

Looking ahead, Jagilly wants Ocean View Lodge to continue growing as a successful, sustainable and locally owned tourism business in Gizo.

His plans include improving the lodge’s facilities and services, strengthening environmental practices, creating more employment opportunities and building stronger links with local communities and other tourism businesses.

There are also plans for further development, including waterfront development and expansion of the lodge.

“With the right technical and financial support, we hope to create a stronger tourism facility that can accommodate more visitors and contribute more to the local economy,” he said.

“I want Ocean View Lodge to become a place that visitors remember for its hospitality, local character and connection to Gizo.”

For Jagilly, running the lodge has also been a personal learning experience.

He said building a business requires patience, resilience, commitment and good relationships with people.

“Tourism is not only about providing rooms. It is about people, service, culture, community and creating experiences that visitors remember,” he said.

Being a locally owned tourism operator also means carrying a responsibility to contribute to the community, he added.

Jagilly said he is proud to be part of Gizo’s tourism industry and to create opportunities for local people.

For him, Ocean View Lodge represents a bigger idea about the role local people can play in developing tourism in their own communities.

“For me, Ocean View Lodge represents more than a business,” he said.

“It represents a vision of local people taking part in and benefiting from the development of tourism in their own community.”