Solomon Islands Country & Tourist Information

Location
Southwestern Pacific.

Area
27,556 sq km (10,639 sq miles).

Population
450,000 (estimate 2001).

Population Density
16.3 per sq km (2001).

Capital
Honiara.
Population: 50,000 (2000).

Government
Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1978.  
Recent history: The election of Snyder Rini as Prime Minister in April 2006 led to protests and rioting in the capital, Honiara. Rini resigned as a result, after only three weeks in the job, and opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare was chosen by Parliament as his replacement.

Language
English is the official language. Pidgin English and over 80 different local dialects are also spoken.

Religion
More than 95 per cent of the population are Christian; the rest mostly hold traditional beliefs.

Time
GMT + 11.

Electricity
230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-type flat three-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare since May 2006.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Nathaniel Waena since 2004.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 677. There are no area codes. There are often technical problems with line connections.

Mobile Telephone
Visitors can hire mobile phones on the islands; payment is preferred in cash (US/AUS/NZ currencies are accepted).

Internet
Public e-mail facilities are available in Gizo and Honiara.

Media


Post
Airmail to Europe takes approximately seven days. Main post office hours (in Honiara): Mon-Fri 0900-1630, Sat 0900-1100. Other post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0800-1200.

Press
The main newspapers are the daily English-language Solomon Star and Solomons Voice.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6-9 Apr Easter.
9 Jun Queen’s Birthday.
7 Jul Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec National Day of Thanksgiving.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
21-24 Mar Easter.
9 Jun Queen’s Birthday.
7 Jul Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec National Day of Thanksgiving.

Note
Each part of the Solomon Islands has its own Province Day. (If a Province Day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.) These are listed below.

25 Feb Choiseul.
2 Jun Isable.
8 Jun Temotu.
29 Jun Central Island.
20 Jul Rennell.
1 Aug Guadalcanal.
3 Aug Makira/Ulawa.
15 Aug Malaita.
7 Dec Western Province.

Contact Information:

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau
Street address: Mendana Avenue, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Postal address: PO Box 321, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tel: 22442.
Website: www.visitsolomons.com.sb

South Pacific Tourism Organization in Fiji
Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 330 4177.
Website: www.spto.org

Embassy of the Solomon Islands in Belgium
Avenue Edouard Lacombrt 17, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (2) 732 7085.

Permanent Mission of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations in the USA
Suite 400L, 800 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017-4709, USA
Tel: (212) 599 6192/6193.


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