The Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) has taken firm steps to prepare the local tourism industry in readiness for a ‘hoped for influx’ of international birdwatchers this year.
A SIVB team led by Australian birdwatching expert, Phil Gregory of Queensland-based Sicklebill Safaris and SIVB marketing officer Brenden Mautoa have been training a number of hand-picked local guides representing tour operators from Honiara, Guadalcanal, Isabel and Makira.
The training aims to properly identify various bird species and their sounds and how to use specialised birdwatching equipment and to look after groups of birdwatching tourists.
