Tourism Solomons has welcomed Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare’s announcement the country’s border will fully reopen on 1 July 2022.

This easing of restrictions means that from that date, foreign nationals can once again enter the country.

However, health precautions will still apply with all incoming travellers required to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arrival, in addition to a negative RAT test within 12 hours of arrival.

Only those people that have completed a full course of vaccinations will be allowed to enter the country from overseas, with the exception of children unable to be vaccinated.

The current quarantine period for international travellers is 14 days but this will be dropped to six days on 01 June and then three days post that date with international visitors required to quarantine in Honiara.

A negative RAT test will be required on day three post-arrival before they can be released.

Tourism Solomons Acting CEO, Head of Corporate Services, Dagnal said after more than two years isolated from the rest of the world, this is wonderful news and he, his team and the local tourism industry are more than ready to start welcoming international visitors.

“Our tourism sector has taken the front foot and is well ahead of other segments of the population in terms of COVID-readiness,” Mr Dereveke said.

“More than 80 percent of business operators, hoteliers and resorts have undergone ‘Tourism Minimum Standards Extra-Care’ training and implemented COVID-safe protocols in preparation for the border reopening.

“All we need are our international guests to start arriving.”

Mr Dereveke and his team have for the past two years been kept busy along with their counterparts at Solomon Airlines and the Ministry of Culture & Tourism driving the domestic-oriented ‘Iumi Tugeda Holiday Packages’.

The program has played a vital role in helping to raise much needed revenue and job opportunities for the country’s severely-impacted tourism industry.

“Now it’s time to move on,” Mr Dereveke said.

“We have a big job on our hands, but our tourism industry has survived numerous crises over the years, and we have always emerged, and will always emerge, in better shape.”