TOURISM Solomons says it is extending the “truest spirit of Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian brotherhood,” by inviting its regional neighbours to join in its 2019 “Me Save Solo” tourism exchange as exhibitors.
The organisation’s CEO, Jo Tuamoto, told Travel Daily in Sydney yesterday he had extended the invitation because he was aware that his tourism industry colleagues in many smaller South Pacific nations simply did not have the resources to stage their own expos.
“The opportunity to join in and exhibit at another of the larger South Pacific nations’ tourism exchanges dried up several years ago…since then, many of our smaller neighbours have missed out completely,” he said.
Tuamoto is understood to have been referring to the controversial 2013 decision by then Tourism Fiji CEO Rick Hamilton to pull out of the long-running Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange (TD 11 Apr 2013) because it also featured competing Pacific Island nations.
Since then Tourism Fiji has gone it alone, only allowing Fijian exhibitors at its annual expo.
Tuamoto said the Solomons was welcoming other regional destinations to participate, as an opportunity to “share the benefits with open arms”.
Me Save Solo 2018 attracted over 50 international buyers from Australia, the US, Japan and Taiwan, with this year’s event expected to be even bigger with additional interest from the UK, Europe and other parts of Asia.
Tuamoto said the response had already been swift, with delegates from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia all expressing interest in taking part in the event scheduled for 05 Jul 2019 in Honiara.
MEANWHILE Tourism Solomons is also celebrating a strong year, with 2019 arrivals up 8.4% and ongoing development to boost minimum standards for accommodation – see page four.
Source: traveldaily