16 Feb 2017

NZ considers more airport development in Solomons

3:14 pm on 16 February 2017

New Zealand is looking to provide more help for the development of tourism in Solomon Islands.

View towards Point Cruz and the Port of Honiara.

View towards Point Cruz and the Port of Honiara. Photo: RNZI/Koroi Hawkins

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who is currently in Honiara for talks, said the Solomons' had spectacular tourism potential.

He said it was necessary to first improve the quality of airports - a process to which Mr McCully has previously committed more than $US22 million dollars of aid money for the development of two airports in Western Province.

He said recently New Zealand had been asked to undertake the same work at several other airports around the country.

To really open up tourism as a significant industry that will provide employment, foreign exchange earnings and of course for import substitution - local growers get a chance to supply goods for the hospitality sector.