Sivoro Highlights Youth Empowerment and Tourism’s Role in Peace
BY CHRIS ALEX
PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Barney Sivoro, emphasized the importance of youth empowerment and tourism as a tool for peace in his address during the joint celebration of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Open Day and World Tourism Day 2024 at the Kukum Campus on Friday last week.
Speaking on the theme of SINU’s Open Day, “Empower the Mind Today, Meet Excellence Tomorrow, and Grow with SINU,” Sivoro highlighted the vital role that education plays in shaping the nation’s future.
“Education is the cornerstone of development. By empowering the minds of today, we invest in a future where excellence, innovation, and progress define our path forward,” he said.
Sivoro acknowledged the university’s role in molding future leaders, professionals, and change makers for the Solomon Islands. He drew connections between this mission and the 2024 World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Peace.” He stated that tourism is not just an economic driver, but also a powerful tool for promoting mutual understanding and fostering peace.
“For us in the Solomon Islands, tourism holds the potential to bring people together, foster mutual understanding, and promote peace,” Sivoro said, noting that tourism enables the sharing of the Solomon Islands’ cultural diversity, natural beauty, and the warmth of its people with the world.
In line with the theme of youth empowerment, Sivoro announced a new initiative by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Starting in 2025, the Ministry will collaborate with the SINU School of Tourism and Hospitality and the Young Entrepreneurs Council of Solomon Islands to launch the Young Tourism Entrepreneurship Program.
This program aims to foster entrepreneurial thinking among students, especially graduates from the School of Tourism and Hospitality, and encourage them to develop innovative tourism products and services.
“We want to empower young minds to not only dream of careers in tourism but to become entrepreneurs in their own right,” Sivoro said, outlining the Ministry’s plan to provide support for credible tourism business proposals. The program will focus on initiatives such as cultural village concepts, ecotourism ventures, marine-based tourism, and hospitality innovation.
The Ministry plans to offer mentorship, access to funding, and business development support, believing that youth-led entrepreneurship will be instrumental in driving the growth and diversification of the tourism industry in the Solomon Islands.
Sivoro stressed that tourism has the potential to promote peace both internationally and within local communities by encouraging people to value their heritage, protect the environment, and grow in harmony.
He urged students to seize the opportunities provided through initiatives like the Young Tourism Entrepreneurship Program to contribute to the sustainable growth of the tourism sector.
“The future of the Solomon Islands tourism industry lies in the hands of our young people,” he said, encouraging students to apply their education creatively and practically to enhance the tourism landscape and make the Solomon Islands a must-see destination.
Sivoro concluded by thanking SINU and its partners for organizing the event and reiterated the crucial role that education and tourism play in building a peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands. He wished everyone a Happy World Tourism Day and a successful SINU Open Day celebration