Solomon Islands: Considering the potential for Chinese visitors and fruit exports
The Prime Minister on his return from China yesterday spoke to journalist of the five MOU’s that had been signed in Beijing and he was quoted as saying:
“The MOUs are umbrella arrangement, allowing for further discussions between technical authorities to broaden cooperation,”
I guess one area that could be discussed would be tourism and particularly the potential of Chinese visitors to the Solomon Islands.
A recent ADB report I read on the subject read, quote.
“Tourism will be one of the most important drivers of economic growth in the Pacific over the next decade.
“The demand for authentic cultural and natural experiences has been increasing globally, particularly among the island countries of the Pacific. Several of these Pacific island countries are already developing their assets and experiences into growing tourism sectors
“As a key source of employment and income in Pacific island countries tourism is pivotal to poverty alleviation. Tourism sector development offers Pacific island countries a path to economic security that dovetails with broader development goals around infrastructure and employment. “
In another report I read, the US – China Economic –Security Review, published last June, there was reference to the Chinese tourism details, and from which I will quote.
“As is the case globally, Chinese tourists are traveling in increasing numbers to the Pacific Islands, a region for which tourism is the dominant services export sector.
“China has been among the fastest-growing countries in terms of the number of tourists visiting the region.
“Chinese visitors grew by an average of 27 percent per year between 2009 and 2014. Despite this rapid growth, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to the Pacific Islands remains modest compared with foreign visitors from Australia and New Zealand
“In the long term, China is likely to continue expanding its tourism footprint in the region. The World Bank estimates Chinese visitors to the 11 World Bank members in the Pacific Islands could continue to grow at 20 percent per year to reach 965,000 visitors by 2040.”
The same report went on to talk about the general requirements for countries likely to see Chinese visitors in greater numbers, and I quote the commentary.
“Improvements to infrastructure and the creation of coherent tourism strategies that are well-integrated with national development plans (are needed)
“By identifying the emerging challenges and opportunities, it is hoped this paper will help Pacific island countries design and implement strategies to capture and maximize the benefits of tourism and do so sustainably.”
Aside from tourism, the Global Times has reported that China’s fruit imports have been growing rapidly in the past few years, thanks to the nation’s growing middle class population of a new generation of consumers willing to spend more on healthy foods.
China imports large quantities of quality mangoes.
Perhaps the Solomon Islands could benefit from exports by way of other fruits and maybe cocoa and coffee beans , nono fruit – perhaps even coconuts, virgin coconut oil and mangoes, if successfully grown locally, as they do in Vanuatu.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
