Tourism Solomons hits the media trail in Australia and New Zealand
Pictured the Tourism Solomons team with Sydney media at the Darling Harbour event - acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke (first on right), PR Manager, Mike Parker-Brown (second on right), Head of Sales & Marketing, Fiona Teama (kneeling first on right), Senior Marketing Officer, Brenden Mautoa (back row first of left) and Trade Manager Australia/New Zealand, Richard Skewes (back row second on left).
Tourism Solomons has successfully wrapped up a three-city, two country road show meeting more than 50 of Australia and New Zealand’s highest-profile travel media.
One of the tourist board’s biggest annual PR exercises, the Tourism Solomons team, headed by Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke, visited Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland, the events presenting a huge opportunity to meet with and update key media on the latest developments taking place on the Solomon Islands tourism scene.
While many of those present represent general consumer, travel industry press, and freelancers, these events provide the tourist board access to those media specialising in the Solomon Islands’ niche product areas – diving, fishing, adventure travel, trekking, history and surfing.
Travel and adventure documentary film makers Tagata Pasifika and New Zealand’s Wild Film, also attended in Auckland.
Mr Dereveke said while the main aim of the road show was aimed at delivering key
messages, they also provided an excellent opportunity to rekindle existing relations with key contacts.
Many of these, he said, are familiar with the destination having visited in the past as part of the tourist board’s international media visitation program (IMVP).
“As importantly, these events also give us a good opening to introduce ourselves to many of the new faces on the travel writing scene, and particularly those emergent influencers and bloggers making a name for themselves,” he said.
Mr Dereveke said that many travel writers and filmmakers are drawn to the fact that the Solomon islands offers something very different, something real and raw.
“That was very evident at all three events,” he said.
“The level of interest, the questions being asked, and the enthusiasm in the room was energising.
“It shows us the Solomon Islands story is one people want to tell — and their audiences want to hear.”