The Solomon Islands continues to make waves as an exotic destination for conferences, with the tiny South Pacific nation recording increased business traveler arrivals from Australia. Thanks to new Pacific Blue flights from Brisbane and increased awareness in the Australian market through public relations and marketing activity. the Solomon Islands recorded a 44 per cent increase in visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the corresponding period in 2008.

Total visitor arrivals by air grew to 4,273 visitors compared with 2,973 visitors in the first quarter of 2008. Business traveler numbers grew by 34 per cent to 1,767 visitors in the first quarter of 2009, while leisure was up 28 per cent to 1,047 visitors. Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau General Manager, Michael Tokuru, said international visitor arrivals increases were primarily from Australia. He said he was optimistic numbers would continue to grow throughout 2009. (Source: Solomon Star News 10 June 2009)

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