World-class diving, untouched nature and rich cultural heritage are drawing visitors back to the archipelago in Oceania.
The Solomon Islands, a small island nation in Oceania, recorded its best post-Covid tourism season so far in 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
This is mainly due to increased promotional and marketing activity, as well as the country hosting key regional conferences last year, such as the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and the Pacific Ministers Water and Wastewater Management Meeting.
Tourist numbers from January to December last year surged by 13.6%, compared to 2024, according to the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO), with a total of 28,548 visitors recorded in 2025.
This is only 382 less than the record 28,930 tourists seen in 2019, shortly before the country imposed a border closure of 800 days to minimise chances of Covid entering the country.
Holiday travel drove most of this increase, rising 34.3% in 2025 compared to 2024.
Chinesetourists led this trend by far, with visitor numbers soaring 64.5% in 2025, compared to the previous year. This was mainly spurred by November 2024’s mutual visa-free agreement between China and the Solomon Islands.
Australiantourist numbers jumped 15.4% in 2025 compared to 2024, accounting for 32.3% of all visitors. Visitor numbers from New Zealand also increased 14.5% in 2025, compared to the previous year, whereas Fiji tourist numbers remained largely unchanged, with just a slight 0.1% bump.
August and September saw the most tourism last year, mainly due to conferences.
“Our focus remains fixed on rebuilding and growing arrivals from our key source markets, and the 2025 overall result show clear progress toward returning to, and exceeding, pre‑Covid levels,” said Dagnal Dereveke, acting CEO of Tourism Solomons.
What to see and do in the Solomon Islands
The collection of almost 1,000 islandsoffer stunning crowd-free beaches, world-class diving, rich culture and pristine nature.
Travellers can diveand snorkel among submerged Japanese shipwrecks from the Second World War era at Bonegi Beach I and II.
Explore the world’s largest saltwater lagoon, Marovo Lagoon, for more excellent diving and snorkelling amid breathtaking marine life and coral reefs.
Wildlife lovers will also love the Western Province for its rich biodiversity, which includes dolphins, turtles and reef sharks.
Hike to Tenaru Falls for panoramic tropical rainforest and mountain views, or visit Kennedy Island, for a picnic at the spot where John F. Kennedy swam ashore in 1943. Another must-visit island is Skull Island, for shrines with the skulls of former tribal chiefs.
For deeper insight into local island and forest life, visit the Peter Joseph WWII Museum, a unique museum made up of artifacts found in the surrounding jungle.
Another open-air museum, the Vilu War Museum, features abandoned Japanese and US artillery and aircraft set around a tropical garden.
Looking for something more unique? Head to the thermal hot springs on Savo Island for an unforgettable experience seeing megapode birds (volcano chickens), which lay eggs in the geothermally heated sand.
Wander around the Honiara Central Market for a variety of local crafts and produce, or take a cultural village tour to experience traditional dances.
With more than 70 languages still spoken and local customs like shell money and dugout canoe travel, visitors can have a very rich cultural experience in the Solomon Islands.
