News
Push for Solomon Islands to form part of a “South Pacific Travel Bubble”
Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto has called on the Australian and New Zealand governments to ask for their active consideration in allowing the COVID-19 free Solomon Islands to be included in a potential ‘South Pacific travel bubble’ when international travel restrictions are finally lifted.
Praising the Solomon Islands’ government for the proactive steps it has taken since early March to close its borders to international travel and in the process keep the country 100 per cent free of any COVID-19 infection, CEO Tuamoto said Australian and New Zealand travellers could be assured of their safety when visiting the destination.
Australian and New Zealand travellers, he said, form the bulk of the country’s international visitor intake and allowing the destination to be included in the bubble would have a major impact in resetting the Solomon Islands economy which relies heavily on tourism as one of its key sources of foreign exchange earnings.
“That to one side we are confident, along with the extremely strict control measures we have had in place, and continue to have in place, which have prevented COVID-19 from entering the country, we are in very strong position to be considered one of the safest travel destinations for Australians and New Zealanders.”
“Given the fact that tourism represents a key economic driver, it is vital we reset the sector in the shortest possible time. This really is the best way Australia and New Zealand can help us get back on our feet.”
Tuamoto said it was ironic that visitor arrival statistics for January 2020 had proven one of the destination’s best starts to a year on record.
“We kicked off the year with a very healthy 6.11 per cent increase over the same period in 2019, traditionally our strongest month – three months on and we are seeing an almost minus 70 per cent deficit in March.”
Looking at the bigger South Pacific picture, Tuamoto said he was hopeful the very low instance of COVID-19 infections in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti combined – 88 cases and zero deaths – could point towards the resumption of inter-Pacific island travel in short time.
If this was to happen before the Australian and New Zealand governments announce their decision, he said it could well prove the catalyst for speeding things along.
For more information about visiting the Solomon Islands click here.
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
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