The Solomon Islands and Cook Islands are exploring closer ties in tourism and culture, with both nations looking to turn shared heritage and industry needs into opportunities for cooperation.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara, where Solomon Islands Minister for Culture and Tourism Choylin Douglas met with Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana.
At the heart of the talks were proposals to collaborate in the tourism and hospitality industry through labour mobility, and to strengthen cultural diplomacy by reviving traditional canoe building and voyaging.
“We’re looking at ways to strengthen our Pacific family ties through cultural and economic cooperation,” said Minister Douglas. “These discussions reflect the deep cultural and economic ties that bind our Pacific family, and the opportunities we have to learn from each other and grow together.”
Tourism at the centre
Both Ministers underscored the importance of tourism to their economies and acknowledged the potential benefits of a bilateral labour mobility arrangement. Such an initiative would allow Solomon Islanders to gain experience in the Cook Islands’ well-established tourism and hospitality sector, while helping the Cook Islands address workforce needs.
Officials noted that the scheme could provide young Solomon Islanders with skills and exposure that would later contribute to the development of their home country’s tourism sector.
Canoes as cultural bridges
Beyond economics, the dialogue turned to shared traditions. The Ministers explored a cultural partnership focused on canoe building and voyaging — practices deeply rooted in Pacific history and identity.
The Solomon Islands’ wealth of forestry resources and traditional craftsmanship could support collaboration with the Cook Islands in sustaining these age-old skills. Leaders agreed that reviving such traditions would not only preserve heritage but also deepen people-to-people connections across the Pacific.
Towards a formal framework
The meeting concluded with agreement to develop a framework for cooperation, which may lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both Ministers instructed their officials to begin drafting proposals and to move the dialogue towards a formal agreement.
For both countries, the initiative signals a broader push to harness culture and tourism as vehicles for unity and development within the Pacific family.
