22 August 2022
The Solomon Islands opened its borders on 1 July this year after a very long period of time due to the presence of Covid-19 and it would be beneficial to learn how the local tourist trade has benefitted from tourist arrivals since the border’s reopening.
It was reported today by Radio New Zealand that cruise ship tourism in New Caledonia will resume in the autumn after a two-and-a-half-year disruption due to covid-19.
P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer is scheduled to arrive in Noumea on October 4 and then sail to Lifou in the Loyalty Islands before returning to Sydney.
Before the pandemic, Lifou alone would receive about 200,000 cruise ship tourists a year.
Cruise ship tourism in New Caledonia slowed in February 2020 when people in Mare, fearful of the virus spreading, forced ships from Australia and Vanuatu to skip stopovers there.
Within days, Lifou and the Isle of Pines followed suit.
New Caledonia remained Covid-19 free until March last year.
The last pandemic-related restrictions were lifted on August 1.
Source – Radio New Zealand.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
