Solomon Islands Reports 10.76% Increase in Visitor Arrivals for October 2017

The Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) has reported that a total of 2,500 international travellers visited the the country in October 2017, a 10.76% increase over the 2,257 recorded for the same month in 2016.

Figures for the 10-month period show the destination has now attracted a total of 21,087 international visitors, a 13.4% increase over the 18,638 figure achieved for January-October 2016 with each of the Solomon Islands’ main source markets recording  year-on-year growth.

Australian visitor numbers again dominated, the 997 total recorded for October representing a 11.2% increase over the 878 recorded last year and accounting for 39.1% of all arrivals.

US numbers, which have seen gradual growth following on from the Guadalcanal campaign 75th anniversary celebrations in August, increased by 23.5% while New Zealand numbers increased by 5.5%.

Interestingly, the biggest increase in October came from China with Chinese visitor numbers jumping 75%, from 80 to 140, a factor Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto, attributes to the inroads the SIVB is making into the Chinese dive market.

“We’re working off a small base here but the Chinese dive market is huge and we’ve gone to considerable efforts to showcase our amazing diving in that part of the world,” he said. “And it’s starting to pay off.”

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