Strong January for Solomon Islands visitation

Tourism Solomons is celebrating its best January international visitor intake since 2019.

New Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) data shows the destination attracted a total of 1318  visitors in the first month of the year, a 13.4 percent increase over the 1162 figure achieved in January 2023.

While the figure fell short of the record 1750 achieved in January 2019, Tourism Solomons CEO (Acting), Dagnal Dereveke said the release of the figures once again  indicated the destination was on the right track.

“2023 was characterised by concerted efforts bent on post-pandemic recovery and reaching the record visitation levels achieved in 2019 before the onset of COVID-19,” Mr Dereveke said.

“We are hopeful, on the back of a concerted marketing effort in tandem with partner Solomon Airlines, 2024 would be the year when the tourist board’s efforts would be realised.

“Our 2024 marketing strategy is fixed on rebuilding and growing the numbers in our short haul markets via planned joint marketing activities with our national carrier, particularly in the Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji where we have experienced good growth,” Mr Dereveke said.

Australian arrivals again dominated the figures, the 423  achieved this year  comprising 33 percent  of total visitation.

Papua New Guinea and Fiji remain in joint second position, the two countries tally 248) comprising 18.8 percent of the total followed by the USA and New Zealand respectively.

“We are still very much in catch-up mode,” Mr Dereveke said.

“But we remain cautiously confident that via our continuing efforts, effective marketing, and increased  international confidence in the Solomon Islands, we will see a strong result across all target markets in the coming year.”