Pacific country seeks tourism market in PNG

 SOLOMON Islands is looking at Papua New Guinea to expand its tourism market, a senior official says.

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau chief executive officer Josefa Tuamoto said PNG had the potential for the small Pacific Islands country to advance its tourism market.

Tuamoto (pictured) said he was in the country this week to meet with respective Government entities to look at ways Solomon Islands could learn from PNG.  

“Essentially we are here (in Papua New Guinea) on a fact finding mission for the Solomon Islands,” he said. 

“The reason for that is because PNG is our second largest market for Solomon Islands after Australia.

“The third is New Zealand, and the United States and then we have some Asian markets.

“For us as a destination, we are still very small in terms of tourism. 

“What we wanted to do is to pursue those markets that are already sending people to our destination.

“Having PNG there as our second biggest market made sense to us to come and visit the people.

“We wanted to talk to some airlines and some business opportunities that are available. It’s very much a fact finding mission to ascertain who can work with us.”