Solomon Islanders call for community-driven tourism
The Pacific Tourism Organisation in partnership with Tourism Solomons and Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism has released findings of the Community Attitude Survey (CAS).
It provides insight into how Solomon Islanders perceive tourism, its potential, and the challenges that must be addressed.
Conducted between November 2024 and June 2025, the survey engaged 1,280 respondents across all nine provinces and capturing the voices of both citizens (98%) and resident non-citizens (2%).
The results reflect a growing national awareness of tourism’s role in shaping the future of the Solomon Islands.
Communities across the country view tourism as a strategic pathway to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors such as logging and fisheries.
The survey highlighted concerns that weak infrastructure, including roads, sanitation, inter-island transport, accommodations, and digital connectivity, is a major barrier to tourism development.
Many respondents felt that the benefits of tourism are not equitably distributed, with wealthier groups and foreign operators perceived to be the primary beneficiaries.
Environmental threats such as reef damage, waste management issues, and the erosion of cultural authenticity were also raised.
Despite these challenges, the survey highlights significant opportunities for growth.
There is strong support for expanding community-based and eco-tourism.
Respondents called for improved tourism education, vocational training, and small-business capacity-building.
Enhanced marketing and promotion were also seen as essential to positioning the Solomon Islands as a distinctive eco-cultural and WWII heritage destination.
“We are looking forward to ongoing collaboration as we work closely with our communities in shaping the tourism that respects our people and culture,” said Tourism Solomons Acting CEO, Dagnal Dereveke
“Tourism Solomons thanks SPTO and Development Partners for the ongoing partnership and support in undertaking the first CAS for Solomon Islands.”
The Solomon Islands is among 10 Pacific Island countries —the Cook Islands, Niue, PNG, Tonga, Timor Leste, Samoa, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and FSM-Yap under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative funded by the New Zealand Government.
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