Solomons tries to tap into Asia via PNG

 PAPUA New Guinea may be the gateway for Solomon Islands to Asia as the small Pacific Island country plans to expand its tourism sector, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau chief executive officer Josefa Tuamoto says. 

“One of the areas in Papua New Guinea that we want to work on is to work with Papua New Guinea through the Melanesian connection to try and tap into the Asian market because we believe that the Asia market is huge and is a growing market globally,” he said. 

Tuamoto said he was in Papua New Guinea this week to meet with respective government entities to look at ways Solomon Islands could learn to expand its tourism market. 

“Solomons cannot do it on its own,” he said. 

“We need to go with partners like Papua New Guinea. 

“That’s also part of this trip to meet with Tourism Promotion Authority and airlines and all that.

“With meeting with the airlines, we hope to look at opportunities within the Pacific particularly with Air Niugini.

“We are trying to work with Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, to strengthen the Melanesian tie.

“We really want to seek the airline’s (Air Niugini) help to open up Asia, because they are already there in Asia – and we’ll see ways we can be able to develop that as well.

“Just to look at opportunities and if it’s there, seize it and hopefully we can grow in numbers out of Papua New Guinea.” 

Tuamoto added: “Also we want   coverage opportunities and for the media to come and visit our country. 

“Hopefully they can come and visit and talk about the Solomons.

“We need promotion as much as possible and ride on the strength of PNG because the two countries are very close to each other.”