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Honiara, Solomon Islands, October 23, 2008—
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has provided a grant to Dive Gizo to help establish a new
online marketing and booking system that will boost tourism in the Solomon Islands. The Web portal (
www.solomonislands-hotels.travel
)
will be launched officially on November 15, 2008, at the Sydney Adventure Travel and Backpackers Expo.
The new portal will be part of the WHL.travel network, comprising more than 100 travel destinations. Dedicated to the Solomon Islands, it
will profile local tour operators and more than 30 accommodations, providing prospective visitors with the opportunity to book online.
Seth Gukuna, Minister for Tourism, who previewed the portal today, said, “This is an important addition to our country’s tourism promotion channels. It will not only enhance Solomon Islands appeal, but also enable business to be conducted in this important sector”.
This will be the sixth booking portal in the Pacific region and the 40
th
supported by IFC in developing countries worldwide, where there is high potential for tourism but limited support for local enterprises to reach the global travel market.
Danny Kennedy, Proprietor of Dive Gizo, said, “Currently, it is difficult for many small tourism business owners in the Solomon Islands to market themselves internationally. Through this reputable network and global online booking system, we can now provide a cost-effective solution for these businesses.”
Alan Moody, Head of IFC Advisory Services for the Pacific, said, “By creating business opportunities for Solomon Islands’ tourism enterprises, this initiative supports local efforts to grow the tourism sector and generate income and employment opportunities.”
This initiative was made possible by a grant from IFC PEP-Pacific, a multidonor facility supported by Australia, IFC, Japan, and New Zealand.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About whl.travel
World Hotel Link started operations as an IFC development project in the Mekong region. Its aim was to connect local accommodation providers with the market. IFC eventually spun off the project in 2006. Today, whl.travel is a global leader in promoting sustainable tourism and travel. For more information, visit
www.whl.travel
.
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