Tourism Solomons has applauded Solomon Airlines following its announcement this week to commence a weekly trans-Tasman service between Auckland and Brisbane, Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke describing the move as, potentially, one of the biggest developments for the country’s tourism sector in recent years.
Scheduled to operate as a return service between Auckland and Brisbane every Friday from 21 February, Mr Dereveke said a major benefit would see the airline offer seamless, same day connectivity into the key Munda-Western Province tourism corridor and Honiara.
This, he said, was a hugely positive move for Munda, Gizo, Seghe and Suavanoa-bound passengers travelling via Brisbane. In the past, due to non-matching schedules, many had been required to book at least one nights’ accommodation in Brisbane on one leg of their journey.
From Tourism Solomons’ perspective, the new service also represents a massive boost for its ongoing marketing efforts in New Zealand which pre-COVID 19 played a major role in seeing Kiwi arrivals build by on average 5 percent annually.
Post-COVID New Zealand arrival numbers have remained steady, largely attributable to Tourism Solomons’ ongoing high profile trade marketing campaigns which continue to directly reach front line travel agency sales staff and potential wholesale partners.
“We have also been extremely proactive with the New Zealand consumer and specialist media,” Mr Dereveke said.
“Our ongoing international media visitation program (IMVP) has seen us achieve very strong results across 2024, both in traditional print and electronic media, for all aspects of our overall tourism offering – from culture, WWII history and birdwatching to dive, sports fishing and surfing.
“Add to this a highly successful annual Auckland media luncheon program which since 2014 has seen Tourism Solomons ‘sell’ the Solomon Islands message to a large number of New Zealand media over the years.”
Plans for a similar event in June-July 2025 are already underway.
“We are confident the new trans-Tasman flights will prove a catalyst for increased numbers of Kiwi tourists and have a positive impact for the country’s tourism sector,” Mr Dereveke said.
“Beyond this exciting announcement, much still needs to be done to make sure the message hits home with Kiwi consumers and the travel industry – and stays there.
“In the bigger picture, this development has the potential to help create new tourism-related job opportunities for our youth and overall, benefit the economy as our international visitors from this key market continue to build.
”But we need to remain proactive.”