Solomon Islanders Call for Sustainable, Community-Driven Tourism

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Tourism Solomons and Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), has released the results of the 2024 Community Attitude Survey (CAS), providing insight into how Solomon Islanders perceive tourism, its potential, and the challenges that must be addressed to ensure its sustainability.

Conducted between November 2024 and June 2025, the survey, the first nationwide study of its kind in the Solomon Islands, engaged 1,280 respondents, with 1,264 valid entries analysed, in the process achieving broad coverage across all nine provinces and capturing the voices of both citizens (98%) and resident non-citizens (2%).

The results reflect a growing national awareness of tourism’s role in shaping the future of the Solomon Islands, revealing strong consensus that tourism is a vital engine for economic growth, job creation, cultural preservation, and national pride.

Communities across the country view tourism as a strategic pathway to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors such as logging and fisheries.

Respondents also expressed deep pride in sharing the Solomon Islands’ unique culture, natural beauty, and the spirit of the ‘Hapi Isles’ with international visitors.

However, the survey also highlighted concerns that weak infrastructure, including roads, sanitation, inter-island transport, accommodations, and digital connectivity, is a major barrier to tourism development.

Many respondents felt that the benefits of tourism are not equitably distributed, with wealthier groups and foreign operators perceived to be the primary beneficiaries.

Environmental threats such as reef damage, waste management issues, and the erosion of cultural authenticity were also raised, alongside concerns about low levels of tourism education and training, particularly in rural provinces.

Despite these challenges, the survey highlights significant opportunities for growth. There is strong support for expanding community-based and eco-tourism models that empower villages, youth, and women.

Respondents called for improved tourism education, vocational training, and small-business capacity-building to ensure that local communities are equipped to participate meaningfully in the sector.

Enhanced marketing and promotion were also seen as essential to positioning the Solomon Islands as a distinctive eco-cultural and WWII heritage destination.

Strengthening government leadership and investing in tourism infrastructure, as well as policy reform, emerged as a key priority.

Tourism Solomons Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke said the CAS findings, are vital in driving future policy and strategic directions for tourism in Solomon Islands.

“Such findings coming from the communities that are the custodians of the resources and the cultures determine the type of tourism that is best suited for Solomon Islands.

“We are looking forward to ongoing collaboration into the future as we work closely with our communities in shaping the tourism that respects our people and culture at the same time provides economic benefits that are sustainable for the current and future generations.”

“Tourism Solomons thanks SPTO and Development Partners for the ongoing partnership and support in undertaking the first CAS for Solomon Islands,” he said.

The Solomon Islands is among 10 Pacific Island countries —the Cook Islands, Niue, PNG, Tonga, Timor Leste, Samoa, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and FSM-Yap under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative funded by the New Zealand Government. PTDI continues to serve as an essential resource for tourism data across the Pacific through the bi-annual International Visitor Survey (IVS), an annual Business Confidence Index (BCI), and an annual Community Attitude Survey (CAS) report to strengthen regional tourism strategies.

SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker emphasised that DATA is King and the importance of community-driven insights in shaping tourism policy.

“This survey is a milestone for the Solomon Islands. It reflects the aspirations and concerns of the people who live the reality of tourism every day. Their voices must guide our collective efforts to build a sector that is inclusive, resilient, and locally led,” he said.