Tourism remains one of the key sectors with strong potential to contribute to employment creation, small business growth, and community livelihoods, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says.

Prime Minister Manele made the remarks on Monday during his first press conference after officiating at the opening of the upgraded Parangiju Mountain Lodge in Central Guadalcanal on 16 January 2026.

He said the project was supported through grant funding approved under the Government’s Budget Support Programme and administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

“This reflects ongoing efforts to support tourism development as part of broader economic and private-sector activity, particularly where local operators, communities, and government are working together,” PM Manele said.

The Prime Minister noted that similar upgrades to the Raiders Hotel and the Pacific Crown Hotel establishment on Double Island in Central Province are expected to be opened soon.

“Initiatives such as this demonstrate how targeted support can assist local operators to expand capacity, improve services, and participate more fully in the sector, within existing policy and budget frameworks,” he said.

The Parangiju Mountain Lodge has expanded its facilities through a partnership with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), including the construction of three new bungalows and a conference room.

The project was funded by a SBD$2 million government contribution, with an additional SBD$400,000 provided by the lodge. Construction began in July 2025, with the bungalows completed in October 2025, while the conference room is now in its final stages of completion.

The family-owned eco-tourism lodge is located in the lush tropical rainforest of Central Guadalcanal and offers guided tours to Tenaru Falls, which is about an hour’s walk from the lodge.