Government Confirms Return of “Hapi Isles” Tourism Branding

At the 2026 Tourism Focus held on Thursday, Minister for Culture and Tourism Choylin Douglas announced the relaunch of the country’s tourism brand, confirming a return to the original “Hapi Isles” branding, replacing the current “Solomon Is.” brand.

Tourism stakeholders gathered in Honiara for the one-day meeting at Mendana Hotel, where Douglas underscored that the government will officially revert to the “Hapi Isles” brand — a move endorsed by Cabinet last year.

“We will officially relaunch our national destination brand by reverting to our original brand, the Hapi Isles,” she said.

Sponsored Advertisement

Douglas said the brand resonates strongly with Solomon Islanders and reflects their genuine warmth, unspoilt natural beauty, rich cultural diversity and relaxed island way of life.

She added that the branding captures the authentic emotional identity of who “we are as a nation” and strengthens the country’s competitive position in the global tourism market.

More than just a marketing tool, the Minister said the Hapi Isles brand will also serve as a national call for peace, unity and social cohesion — encouraging every Solomon Islander to live the values of hospitality, respect, harmony and cultural pride.

“I invite all of you to be part of this important rebranding rollout as we collectively safeguard and promote the image and reputation of our country,” she said.

Reflecting on this year’s theme, Strategic Transition, Douglas said it calls on the sector to move from recovery to growth, with a focus on transformation.

“It calls on us to transition from fragmented efforts to coordinated strategies; from small-scale thinking to long-term planning; and from isolated investments to structured public-private partnerships that involve resource owners and communities,” she said.

She urged participants to reflect on how government, the private sector and resource owners can work more effectively together — particularly through public-private partnerships (PPP).

“Our land and marine resources are held by our people. If we are to truly transform this industry, we must build models that respect ownership while unlocking opportunities,” she said.