Solomon Islands Update

Following on from updates received over the last couple of days from Karen Foimua Marketing Manager at Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau that while Gizo is baldy affected, elsewhere it is business as usual, Michael Tokuru, General Manager of the Bureau issued a statement confirming the situation.

Karen yesterday encouraged Aussies and Kiwis not to forget the Solomons and except for Gizo, it was business as usual right across the islands.

Mr Tokuru confirmed that as of yesterday, 24 people were confirmed dead, 7 seriously injured, 5,409 homeless, and 914 houses as a result of the earthquake and following tsunami which struck Gizo the capital of Western Province and other areas in Western and Choiseul provinces on the morning of 2 March 2007.

He added that The National Disaster Council which is monitoring the situation and compiling the reports for the Government had announced the withdrawal of the tsunami warning as of today following its assessments the threat from further tsunami has significantly reduced.

Mr Tokuru said that SIVB had received reports from Gizo that most of the hotels, motels and resorts in Gizo and Munda experienced minor damages but remain closed but a few motels in Gizo had reopened for business but are facing water and power shortages.  Also, in Gizo and surrounding areas, fixed line telephone and GSM mobile communication are operating normally, however, Solomon Telekom reported that telephone congestions has been experienced as callers from other parts of the country and overseas were anxious to find out about the situation in Gizo and surrounding areas.

He said, “It is too early to assess the cost of damages to tourism plants and infrastructure in Western and Choiseul provinces and to know the overall loss to the tourism industry, however, the widespread damage to buildings, properties, and infrastructure in Gizo, the popular tourist destination in Solomon Islands will have an impact.

He confirmed that in spite of the unfortunate situation in Gizo and the western parts of the country, the central and eastern parts of Solomon Islands with many alternative destinations offering similar product and experiences to Gizo are unaffected and likewise the tourism facilities and infrastructure in these areas are unaffected, urging the Australian and New Zealand travel industry not to forget the Solomon Island and to keep booking their clients.

David Beirman, international crisis recovery specialist and TravelMole crisis contributor said, “It is important to give the whole picture and while it is clear that Gizo and some Western areas are badly affected, the remainder of the Solomons is not and open for business as usual.” 

David added “There are many global case studies related to event just such as this where the scenario has not been accurately reported, in particular in mainstream media and the ‘business as usual’ message for other parts not conveyed, with devastating impact on the whole tourism industry, when in reality only one area has been affected as is the case in the Solomons”  He added, “Reading and listening to the sensationalist mainstream media would lead you believe that the whole of the Solomon Islands is under water, which is clearly not the case in the slightest”

Report by The Mole from a statement by Michael Tokuru, General Manager, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and contributions by David Beirman