The 5th of July was a watershed moment for Solomon Island tourism. It was the night when the country’s tourism marketing office officially rebranded from the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau to Tourism Solomons. The night also lifted the veil on the new national brand, ‘Solomon Is.’.
Held at the prestigious Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, the evening program opened with the national anthem accompanied by the Solomon Islands’ signature panpipe melodies.
Hosted by Tourism Solomons’ Head of Sales & Marketing, Freda Unusi, more than 50 travel agents from Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the US, along with 29 local tour operators, dive companies and resort operators were in attendance. This same group had also been part of the inaugural ‘Mi Save Solo’ Solomon Islands tourism exchange at the Coral Sea Resort & Casino earlier that day.
Notable guests who spoke at the brand launch included Prime Minister, the Hon. Rick Houenipwela; Minister for Culture and Tourism, the Hon. Bartholomew Parapolo; Chairman of the Branding Committee, Mr. Barney Sivoro and Permanent Secretary of MCT, Mr. Andrew Nihopara.
After the formalities were over, guests broke out in song and dance as they celebrated the dawn of a new era for the Solomon Islands tourism industry.