Migration from all directions over thousands of years has combined with a scattered, comparatively isolated population to produce a country rich in cultural diversity. Melanesians, Polynesians, Asians, Micronesians and the odd Westerner all call the Solomons home, imbuing the islands with a variety of islander traditions unrivalled in the Pacific.
With ancient customs still widely practiced in thousands of small villages, local life is an often-unexpected bonus for visitors. Despite centuries of exploitation and let-downs from Western 'visitors', the locals are generally more than happy to allow you access to their land, as well as help you find your way around their part of the world.
Travelling to the Solomon Islands remains an adventure even today, however the varied attractions upon arrival more than compensate even the most jaded explorer. Those lured to the Solomons by the promise of extraordinary natural features will not be disappointed; the islands have a well-deserved reputation as possibly amongst the world's best destination for scuba divers, snorkellers and fishing freaks.
Despite its long, often bloody history, most historical interest in the Solomons surrounds its pivotal role as a strategic site in the Pacific in WWII. The number of WWII naval wrecks in the waters of Iron Bottom Sound are testament to the ferocity and destructive power of battle.
With a total population of 300 000 there are very few cities and most people still live a very basic life in the villages. Tourism is only starting to discover this precious part of the Pacific. In fact "soft" tourism is hoped to contribute to the conservation of some of the most beautiful parts in the Solomon Islands. Village guesthouses in some remote areas of the Maroovo Lagoon and the Renell Islands are hoped to generate enough income for the local communities to convince them that there are alternatives to clear cut logging. Additionally an application to protect this area of natural beauty and diversity under World Heritage is under way.
History
The Solomon Islands have had very little influence from western civilisation until very recently. It was "discovered" for the western civilisation by Alvaro de Mendana, a Spanish sailor on his way searching for gold for the Spanish crown. Without any significant finds, they very quickly lost interest again. The growing trade with beche-de-mer, pearls and palm oil in the late 19th century brought more westerners to these shores and towards the end of the last century the Solomons became a part of the cruel slave trade to Fiji and Queensland. About 30 000 Solomon Islanders were indentured as slave labour.
Second World War came to the Solomons like a nightmare. The historic naval battles between Japanese and allied soldiers are well documented. Little is known about the impact of 20th century warfare on the local population. More then fifty years later, the remains of the battles are still scattered around the sea bottom and the forests. For divers there is the double fascination of visiting historic sites, few people will ever see and the beauty of the wrecks that are hosts to colourful reefs and dense fish life.
In 1978 the Solomon Islands gained independence as a nation and only since the early 1990's the country started opening to tourism.
Today, tourism is becoming an increasingly important economic factor. Apart from War veterans, it is predominantly divers who travel to the Solomons.
Activities
As with many Pacific islands, the greatest attraction for visitors to the Solomon Islands is diving. A combination of spectacular coral reefs and hundreds of WWII wrecks makes diving and snorkelling attractive options. The water temperatures in the island group are among the warmest in the world, and visibility is commonly as good as 30m (100 ft).
Other popular outdoor activities could keep you busy for months. There's bushwalking, canoeing, mountain and volcano climbing, swimming, surfing, fishing, shell-collecting, bird-watching, caving and mountain biking, enough to keep even the most dedicated adventurer sated.
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