Solomon Islands tour

Planet

The Solomon Islands is a country where 'green' policies and principles are not exactly buzz words so it's all about the little things adding up to slowly start to make a difference. We are always talking to our local ground agents about the importance of stressing to clients the importance of basic responsible principles such as appropriate waste disposal, not to waste water, turning off lights on leaving the room in hotels, not replacing towels and bedding daily etc.

Our local agents are also keen to stress to visitors the importance of not straying from marked trails at historic sites, an important step towards maintaining the sites for future generations.

Uepi Island Resort encourages all guests to only bring and use biologically sensitive toiletries to the resort. In-room bathroom toiletries are natural plant/mineral based made by a Western Australian company and are 100% biodegradable. The resort also recommends all guests use 'reef safe sunscreens' which are free of Oxybenzone as this is now known to damage the coral reefs causing coral bleaching and affecting the reefs ability to resist climate change. The resort also has strict rules on guests conduct on the reefs and while swimming with the manta rays established to ensure the future of the reefs and their manta ray colony. The resort is also involved with 'Solutions pa Marovo', a charity established by an Australian family who offer annual medical tours to help local Marovo villagers who are unable to otherwise obtain medical treatment.

As a company we have introduced responsible practices in our UK office including paper, cardboard, aluminium and plastic recycling. We also support local UK charities including the RNIB and various charities around the world. 50% of our office staff use public transport (bus and train) and cycle to work. Management encourages this with their introduction of the cycle to work scheme which offers subsidised cycle ownership.

People

By the very nature of life in the Solomons all services are provided by local people. This includes your local English-speaking group guides, the drivers, local guides at various monuments/sites and hotel staff. All staff are paid a fair wage for the Solomons and all wages are kept within the local communities thereby supporting local people. Furthermore, by visiting these hotels and sites additional income is brought into the region, further helping to develop the local area.

Importing food stuffs into the Solomons can be prohibitively expensive so all of the food for meals included on the itinerary is sourced locally whether it is served in hotels or a local restaurant. All hotels on the itinerary are locally owned, managed and run.

Possibly one of the key positive benefits of visiting the Solomons is the albeit sometimes small influence outside attitudes and cultures can make on the people of the country. Locals are always welcoming and friendly and keen to learn a little about Western ways. This vacation helps to allow each culture to learn a little about the other.