Guadalcanal
p. 75 · Read in the full issue
New resort opened for tourists on Guadalcanal
Tambea Village, a new resort for tourists on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and dining out and recreation centre for local people, was opened on a limited scale recently.
The first tourist project of its kind in the protectorate, Tambea also embraces a novel system of owner ship in which most of the share holders will be Solomon Islanders.
The controlling interest will be held by Mr. and Mrs. Olle Torling, and the remaining shares—convertible to cash at any time —will be earned by 45 Tambea villagers in exchange for work.
Plans for the village, to eventually include 25 holiday bungalows, have been taking shape since last Sep tember. At first, only a restaurant was opened to visitors but develop ment is being accelerated.
On the advice of visiting executives of a leading US travel company, and the Fiji Visitors Bureau, the project aims to combine a traditional Pacific Island atmosphere with modern amenities.
Leaf construction
The bungalows (about six will be completed by the end of the year) will be of leaf construction and lighting will be by gas lamps. At the same time, said Mr. Torling, each would have a brick-built toilet and shower, and would be fully furnished including easy chairs, spring mat tresses and refrigerators.
When finished, said Mr. Torling, the resort would include a large fresh water swimming pool, changing rooms, a trading store, a miniature golf course, and a number of beer gardens. Water ski-ing facilities would be operated on a small scale at first and would be expanded later. A vessel for game fishing would be available on charter, and under con struction were two glass-bottomed boats to enable visitors to study the sea life. Custom dancing displays, including girls from the Roman Catholic Mission at Visale, were being organised.
Mr. Torling said the resort would be serviced by local gardens, locally reared poultry, a piggery and local fishing operations. The villagers who will help to operate the project were now being trained, and would wear uniforms.