HONIARA, 07 FEBRUARY 2019 (TOURISM SOLOMONS) – Tourism Solomons has extended an open invitation to its regional neighbours to join in the 2019 ‘Me Save Solo’ tourism exchange as exhibitors.
Delegates from Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and Nauru have all expressed an interest in the event taking place in Honiara on 5 July 2019.
Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto said many of the smaller South Pacific nations do not have the resources to stage their own tourism exchanges, so it makes sense to work together.
“The opportunity to join in and exhibit at one of the larger South Pacific nations’ tourism exchanges dried up several years ago,” Tuamoto said.
“Since then, many of our smaller neighbours have missed out completely. As one of the smaller South Pacific nations we know exactly what it feels like – it was a similar situation in the Solomon Islands until last year when with government and industry support, both domestic and international, we were able to stage our first ever full-scale tourism exchange. So, in order to help give them the start we have been fortunate to achieve we have, in the truest spirit of Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian brotherhood, welcomed our neighbours to join with us and share the benefits with open arms.”
‘Me Save Solo’ 2018 attracted more than 50 international buyers from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the US.
Tourism Solomons anticipates even stronger numbers in 2019 with buyers joining the event from further afield including the UK, continental Europe and other parts of Asia.
‘Me Save Solo’ 2019 will take place at the Institute of Tourism in the Solomon Islands National University campus.
