economic development

The Asian Development Bank is calling on the Solomons government to foster tourism as the country's key export earner, logging, winds down.

The sector is tiny at the moment and the legacy of years of ethnic tension at the turn of the century has held it back, with about 23,000 tourists annually at the moment.

But Auckland University of Technology's New Zealand Tourism Research Institute director, Simon Milne, said the sector had a big future.

Speaking ahead of a three day visit to the kingdom next week, NZTBC chair Sione Taufa said Tonga had much for people wanting to do business in the Pacific region.

“It has unique human capital, with well educated, English-speaking people and it boasts an economy with great potential,” Taufa said.

“Its industries are still growing, so there is a lot of room for development.

“Tonga has the untapped potential of a rapidly growing youth population and a special cultural heritage which is seen in all aspects of life – and in business.”