Rob Duthie and Patrick Duthie of Kalang carried out the trainings in Honiara and Gizo in Western Province. The events complemented the handicraft video and vendor guide that have been developed by PHAMA to create awareness of biosecurity requirements for exporting handicrafts.

Narety Bulehite, a Biosecurity Solomon Islands Officer based in Gizo, said the training was important for her own understanding in being able to deal with handicrafts quarantine issues and enquiries from producers and tourists.

Rendy Solomon, President of Western Province Council of Women, encouraged handicraft stakeholders to take a collaborative approach as a way forward for the industry. She said the training was the first of its kind and extended her appreciation to PHAMA for the initiative.

Stone carver, Aqiri Golo, said, “This is an eye-opener for me. My people and I had no previous knowledge of what happens to our products after tourists buy them and the quarantine issues that apply.” He described the training and the vendor guide as mind-opening and invaluable. “We need more training and copies of the vendor guide to be distributed to other handicraft producers.”

Handicrafts are an important trade in the country. Many handicrafts are produced specifically for sale to tourists, and cruise ship-based tourism is of growing importance as a potential handicraft market, particularly as vessels increase their visitation to outer island destinations where villages have few income-earning opportunities. Carnival Cruises, the main operator in the region, expect further growth in the number of sailings and is initiating sailing routes to other locations in Solomon Islands.