by EDNAL PALMER
Tourism remains one of the key sectors with strong potential to drive employment, small business growth, and community livelihoods across the country, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has reaffirmed.
Speaking at the first press conference held in Honiara Monday, the Prime Minister said this was demonstrated through the recent opening of the upgraded Parangiju Mountain Lodge in Central Guadalcanal, which he officially launched prior to his overseas travel.
The project was supported through grant funding approved under the Government’s Budget Support Programme and administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. According to Prime Minister Manele, the upgrade reflects the government’s broader efforts to strengthen tourism development as part of wider economic and private-sector activity.
He emphasized that partnerships between local operators, communities, and government remain central to building a sustainable tourism industry.
“The Parangiju Mountain Lodge project shows how targeted support can assist local operators to expand capacity, improve services, and participate more fully in the tourism sector,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele also announced that similar tourism infrastructure upgrades will soon be opened, including improvements to the Raiders Hotel and the Pacific Crown Hotel establishment on Double Island in Central Province.
He noted that such initiatives align with existing government policy and budget frameworks, ensuring that support is delivered in a sustainable and coordinated manner.
The government continues to position tourism as a priority sector for economic diversification, particularly in areas where locally driven projects can generate long-term benefits for communities.
