Community elder from Makira/Ulawa is urging leaders of Makira Ulawa Province to prioritize investment in the tourism sector
By Lionel Taorao, Stringer/Reporter – Ulawa
A community elder from Anuta Island in West Makira constituency in the Makira Ulawa Province is calling on leaders of the Makira Ulawa province to invest more on the tourism sector.
Hansel Borisau, a Teacher by profession and is one of the key organizers of the Anuta Island Birdwatch activities that brings in tourists to Anuta Island says that leaders of the Makira Ulawa Province should consider focusing in developing the tourism industry in Makira Ulawa Province as there are many untapped potential tourism sites that is still not known in the outside world because of their remoteness.
“Our leaders need to look into ways to develop and promote tourism in the Makira Ulawa Province because spread across the Makira Ulawa Province, there are many untapped potential areas or hotspots that can attract tourists to come and visit during vacations”, Mr. Borisau says.
He adds that it is time that leaders must change focus from destructive developments such as Logging activities and explore other areas which did not cause destruction to the environment and natural habitats.
“Let’s conserve our forests and instead of deforestation, let us conserve our remaining forests and focus on tourism activities with our forests by protecting our natural habitats and biodiversity that we have on Makira Ulawa province”, Mr. Hansel states.
He says that his community has set the lead with their bird watching program and he encourages other communities to learn from them and follow suit with offering to visitors other leisure activities.
“Anuta Island bird watching program has set the lead in the tourism business for other communities in the West Makira area and other communities can learn from us and start setting up their own activities as there are many things other communities can offer for visiting tourists, things like leisure activities, bush trekking and many more other activities”, Mr. Borisau further stated.
Anuta Island in the West Makira region have been receiving tourists on their island for bird watching expeditions since 2002 after they foster partnership with Heritage Expedition company, a New Zealand based company in Auckland through Destination Solomon Limited who facilitates the visits in the Solomon Islands.
Makira Ulawa Province hosts some of the country’s top potential tourism attraction sites that can be explored for development in the tourism sector and has a rich cultural diversity.
Contribution from our stringer in Ulawa is supported by BBC Media Action through Media Strengthening in Solomon Islands Project with the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI)
