PM Described China as a Relevant Development Saviour for SI Tourism
BY TAVAKE SIMON HANA’AROA
THE National Government of Solomon Islands following its previous diplomatic switch has seen china as the answer to unanswered questions in terms of developments.
Speaking during the recent annual 2020 Tourism in Focus Forum, Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare has pointed out the fruitful side of the shift.
“Let me quickly touch on the implications on the growth opportunities for the tourism sector (and development in general) with the diplomatic shift to the People’s Republic of China.
“The diplomatic shift will bring with it many development and business opportunities for the productive sectors including tourism. We have to push new boundaries by exploring new markets to grow our tourist arrivals,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.
He further noted that as a long-standing political vision of the Solomon Islands government that tourism would one day replace logging as a more sustainable economic driver.
“The government is managing the engagement process with China (PRC) towards realizing these fruitful outcomes for the growth of tourism through securing relevant and genuine investments and attracting the relevant segments of this fast-growing outbound tourism market.
“We have to challenge the status quo not only attract but secure new investments in the sector.
“The Government is managing the engagement process with China (PRC) towards realizing these fruitful outcomes for the growth of tourism through securing relevant and genuine investments and attracting the relevant segments of this fast-growing outbound tourism market.
“It is a long-standing political vision of this nation that tourism would one day replace logging as a more sustainable economic driver.
“To realize this vision, the tourism industry will have to expand more than 5 times to the current state to parallel logging receipt let alone to replace it,” he said.
Hon. Sogavare added: “Development and business opportunities with China (PRC) in the tourism sector must be strategically embraced with caution to ensure our resource owners become active participants and our tourism operators are secured in their various tourism business undertakings across the country.”
