Travel & living abroad
- You are here:
- Home
- › Travel & living abroad
- › Travel advice by country
- › Asia and Oceania
- › Solomon Islands
Asia and Oceania
Solomon Islands |
|
| Still current at: 26 November 2009
Updated: 14 November 2009 |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary. (Disturbances in Honiara). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
Travel Summary
- There remains a risk of civil disturbance in Solomon Islands. In April 2006, political tensions in the Solomon Islands resulted in wide-scale civil unrest in Honiara. You should exercise caution and avoid public gatherings and large crowds, and monitor local information sources.
-
If you are visiting, or are resident in the Solomon Islands, you should exercise caution at all times and maintain a high state of personal awareness. We advise you to ensure that you are comfortable with, and regularly review your own and your family's security arrangements. You should take up to date advice about day trips or travel around the area close to Honiara, refrain from travelling around Honiara at night and avoid public gatherings and large crowds.
-
Solomon Islands sits along a volatile seismic strip called the 'Ring of Fire'. Earthquakes occur regularly and tsunamis are possible. On 2 April 2007, a tsunami hit the Western and Choiseul provinces of Solomon Islands and more than 50 people were killed. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice for more details.
-
The tropical cyclone season in the Solomon Islands normally runs from November to May. Landslides and flooding can wash away bridges and make roads impassable. Since January, heavy rains and flooding have affected the Solomon Islands. See the Natural Disasters and Local Travel sections of this advice and Tropical cyclones for more details.
-
There is a low threat from terrorism in the Solomon Islands. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
-
Very few British nationals visit the Solomon Islands each year. Most visits are trouble-free. Five British nationals required consular assistance in the Solomon Islands in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (1 cases); hospitalisations (2 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (0 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (0 cases). If you intend travelling outside of the main population centres or by boat you might wish to consider carrying a locator beacon device (EPIRB). This will increase the chances of you being rescued if you get lost or into difficulty.
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism in the Solomon Islands. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
There is a low threat from terrorism in the Solomon Islands. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
The Solomon Islands Police Force has limited resources and response times to calls for assistance can be slow. Incidents of robberies with threatened violence in expatriate homes, pick-pocketing and harassment, particularly at the Central Market, have been reported.
There is the potential for trouble owing to both civil unrest and drunken behaviour. Foreigners and expatriates may be particularly attractive targets for violence. You should exercise caution if going to local nightclubs as instances of drunken attacks are not uncommon. You should be aware that such venues rarely have adequate fire precautions in place.
You should take security precautions at all times in Honiara, and maintain a high state of personal awareness. There have been several stabbing incidents in Honiara. Although these are believed to have been related to family disputes, and not targeted at foreigners, you should exercise caution at all times and maintain a high state of personal awareness. You should also avoid travel around Honiara at night, where possible. There have been incidents, including vehicle hijacking, in squatter settlements around Honiara and the Lungga Bridge/Sun Valley and Henderson area (notably the route to the Airport). Improvised roadblocks, sporadic rock throwing and more serious violent criminal acts, including sexual assault, robbery and vehicle hijacking have all been reported. These areas should be avoided, particularly in the early hours of the morning and at weekends. If you plan to visit rural Guadalcanal, take day trips outside Honiara or visit the island of Malaita you are advised to check this advice before travelling. Visits to other provinces in the Solomon Islands are generally trouble-free.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Solomon Islands Country Profile.
Since the wide-scale civil unrest that took place in the Solomon Islands between 18 and 22 April 2006, the political situation has remained relatively calm. At the time, rioting resulted in 90% of China Town and several other buildings in the capital Honiara, including one major hotel being destroyed.
Manasseh Sogavare was ousted from his position of Prime Minister following a vote of no confidence on 13 December 2007 and a new government is now in place. The risk of civil disturbance remains. You should, therefore, exercise caution and avoid public gatherings and large crowds and monitor local information sources.
Local Travel
Inter-island travel is by air to mainly grass and coral airstrips, or by ferryboats. If you intend travelling outside of the main population centres or by boat you might wish to consider carrying a locator beacon device (EPIRB). This will increase the chances of you being rescued if you get lost or into difficulty. Solomon Islands has recently experienced severe flooding following heavy rains between January and April. Northwest and East Guadalcanal and Savo Island (12 km north-west of Guadalcanal) were worst affected. Several roads and bridges to the West of Honiara were washed away. Landslides made the situation worse. Most roads are now passable, but you should seek the advice of local authorities if you are planning to travel.
Road Travel
There are few roads in the Solomon Islands, 90% of these are on Guadalcanal and Malaita. Only a few of the main roads are of reasonable quality. The rest are very heavily potholed and in some areas bridges have collapsed. Standards of driving and vehicle maintenance are poor. Be especially careful when overtaking any vehicle. Many Solomon Islanders chew betel nut and frequently open vehicle doors, including on the driver's side, when travelling at speed, in order to spit onto the road. Drivers should also be particularly careful when driving in and around town. The combination of poor pedestrian discipline and cars travelling at speed has resulted in a number of fatal accidents.
Inter-island travel is by air to mainly grass and coral airstrips, or by ferryboats. If you intend travelling outside of the main population centres or by boat you might wish to consider carrying a locator beacon device (EPIRB). This will increase the chances of you being rescued if you get lost or into difficulty. Solomon Islands has recently experienced severe flooding following heavy rains between January and April. Northwest and East Guadalcanal and Savo Island (12 km north-west of Guadalcanal) were worst affected. Several roads and bridges to the West of Honiara were washed away. Landslides made the situation worse. Most roads are now passable, but you should seek the advice of local authorities if you are planning to travel.
Road Travel
There are few roads in the Solomon Islands, 90% of these are on Guadalcanal and Malaita. Only a few of the main roads are of reasonable quality. The rest are very heavily potholed and in some areas bridges have collapsed. Standards of driving and vehicle maintenance are poor. Be especially careful when overtaking any vehicle. Many Solomon Islanders chew betel nut and frequently open vehicle doors, including on the driver's side, when travelling at speed, in order to spit onto the road. Drivers should also be particularly careful when driving in and around town. The combination of poor pedestrian discipline and cars travelling at speed has resulted in a number of fatal accidents.
As in the UK, if you are involved in a road accident the law requires you to stop and stay at the scene until the police arrive. However, if a large and hostile crowd gathers you should drive immediately to the nearest police station to report the incident. The police may then accompany you back to the scene of the accident.
For further information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
Air safety has been good but reliability of services can be patchy and cancellations occur. Domestic flights are particularly prone to disruption and visitors with international connections should take note and plan accordingly.
Sea Travel
Saltwater crocodiles are native to parts of the Solomon Islands, and there have been sightings on beaches. Local advice should be sought before entering unfamiliar waters, including lakes.
Ferry services are usually crowded and safety regulations not always strictly applied. It is advisable to bring your own lifejacket if contemplating sea journeys. Journeys to small and/or remote islands are usually in small-motorised “canoes”.
For more general information see River and Sea Safety.
Local laws and customs
Drug use is illegal in the Solomons, and can lead to prison sentences. Swearing is a crime and can lead to large compensation claims and even jail.
Dress codes, particularly for women, are modest and you will gain respect by dressing appropriately. In certain areas there are ‘taboo’ sites only visited by men.
Solomon Islanders do not object to being photographed but you should ask permission first.
Land ownership in the Solomon Islands is an important and sensitive issue. Walking and trekking off the beaten track, or the use of many of the beaches around Honiara, may require payment of a “kastom” fee to the landowner.
Homosexuality is illegal in the Solomon Islands and the penalties can include custodial sentences. Open displays of affection between same-sex partners are likely to offend local inhabitants.
Dress codes, particularly for women, are modest and you will gain respect by dressing appropriately. In certain areas there are ‘taboo’ sites only visited by men.
Solomon Islanders do not object to being photographed but you should ask permission first.
Land ownership in the Solomon Islands is an important and sensitive issue. Walking and trekking off the beaten track, or the use of many of the beaches around Honiara, may require payment of a “kastom” fee to the landowner.
Homosexuality is illegal in the Solomon Islands and the penalties can include custodial sentences. Open displays of affection between same-sex partners are likely to offend local inhabitants.
For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.
Entry requirements
Visas
Visas are not required for British nationals visiting the Solomons. You should be in possession of a return or onward ticket. We advise all British nationals (including those residing in the Solomon Islands) to obtain a multi-entry visa for Australia. See the Travel Advice for Australia for more details.
Passport validity
You should have at least six months validity on your passport.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Health
Medical facilities are very basic throughout the Solomon Islands. There are limited hospital facilities and medical supplies are not always available. Doctors are few and far between. The National Referral Hospital in Honiara frequently runs out of blood supplies and often has a very limited stock of oral re-hydration salts, paracetamol and basic antibiotics. You should take a basic medical kit with you when visiting rural and remote areas.
Dengue fever and malaria occur in the Solomon Islands; these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. You should visit your GP to discuss appropriate anti malarial medication.
Scuba divers should be aware that there is a decompression chamber in Honiara, which is manned by volunteers. Registered dive operators can provide information on access arrangements.
There have been 12 reported cases of individuals contracting the HIV virus; this situation is expected to increase threefold over the coming year. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
For more general health information see Travel Health and Swine Fllu and for food/drink hygiene see Eat and Drink Safety.
Natural disasters
The Solomon Islands are a part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; earthquakes, tidal waves and volcanic activity can occur at any time.
The 'ring-of-fire' is a horse-shoe-shaped zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surrounds the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is 40,000kms long and is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic mountain ranges and/or plate movements.
It is understood that 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, which is a direct consequence of plate tectonics and the movement of collisions of crustal plates. The island of Savo, 35 kilometres North West of Honiara, is a cyclically active volcano.
Earthquakes
At 0740 local time on 2 April 2007 a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of the western Solomon Islands, close to Gizo. The earthquake was followed by a tsunami. Widespread damage occurred in the towns of Gizo, Noro, Simbo, Ranogga, Shortlands, Munda, Vella La Vella, Kolombangara, Taro and the southern coast of Choiseul, including Sasamunga. There were more than 50 people killed as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.
Although destruction of property was widespread, Gizo is slowly returning to normality, with all resorts and hotels open for business. You should keep in touch with your tour operator for advice on the local situation.
Tropical cyclones
The tropical cyclone season in the Solomon Islands normally runs from November to May. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). You can also access http://www.nhc.noaa.gov for updates. See Tropical cyclones for more details.
Between January and April heavy rains and flooding affected the Solomon Islands. Northwest and East Guadalcanal and Savo Island (12km North-west of Guadalcanal) were most affected. There have been several confirmed deaths, and a number people are still missing as a direct result. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people were directly affected as a result of the flooding. Many homes and crops in the area were destroyed and local transport infrastructure has been affected. Several bridges were severely damaged. See Local Transport Section of this advice. More rain is forecast.
Between January and April heavy rains and flooding affected the Solomon Islands. Northwest and East Guadalcanal and Savo Island (12km North-west of Guadalcanal) were most affected. There have been several confirmed deaths, and a number people are still missing as a direct result. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people were directly affected as a result of the flooding. Many homes and crops in the area were destroyed and local transport infrastructure has been affected. Several bridges were severely damaged. See Local Transport Section of this advice. More rain is forecast.
General
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. For the Solomon Islands this should include a provision for medical evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See Travel Insurance for more details.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.
Registering with the British High Commission
You should register with the British High Commission on arrival (if necessary via your hotel reception).
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Replacement Passports
The British High Commission in Honiara does not issue full passports. Applications for a new passport can be submitted to the High Commission in Honiara for forwarding to Canberra. You are advised to apply at least two months before your passport is due to expire. You should be aware that you will not be allowed to retain your old passport whilst waiting for a replacement to be processed and returned.
Urgent applications can be forwarded by commercial courier, to the British High Commission in Canberra, and the courier cost will be added to the passport fee. You should be aware that our High Commissions will process your application as quickly as possible but, due to the distances involved, it is likely that there will be a delay in issuing you with a full replacement British Passport.
Where necessary the High Commission will issue an emergency or temporary Passport. Temporary passports have a restricted validity of up to one year, whilst emergency passports are only valid for a single journey back to the UK using agreed transit points as necessary, or to Commonwealth countries provided a prior arrangement exists with the authorities of the Commonwealth country concerned.
The High Commission will be able to advise you which of these options best suits your circumstances.
Where necessary the High Commission will issue an emergency or temporary Passport. Temporary passports have a restricted validity of up to one year, whilst emergency passports are only valid for a single journey back to the UK using agreed transit points as necessary, or to Commonwealth countries provided a prior arrangement exists with the authorities of the Commonwealth country concerned.
The High Commission will be able to advise you which of these options best suits your circumstances.
Mobile network and Internet access
There is a GSM phone service in the Solomon Islands. Coverage, however, is limited to Honiara, Gizo, Munda and Noro. You should contact your service provider for further details. Solomon Telekom offers a hire service for their mobile phones and satellite phones.
There are a few Internet cafes in Honiara; costs range from SB$16 to SB$120 per hour.
Money
There are three banks operating in the Solomon Islands, but banking facilities outside the major towns are non-existent. There are a small number of ATMs in the Solomon Islands including one at Honiara Airport. Current experience is that these operate efficiently.
Share this with:
Contacts
Solomon Islands, Honiara, British High Commission
Address:
PO Box 676
Telekom House
Mendana Avenue
Honiara
Telephone:
(+677) 21705
(+677) 21706
Fax:
(+677) 21549
Email: bhc@solomon.com.sb
Office hours:
Office hours (Local time):
Mon-Thu: 08:00-12:00 / 13:00-16:00
Fri: 08:00-12:00 / 13:00-15:00
Office hours (GMT):
Sun-Wed: 21:00-01:00 / 02:00-05:00
Thurs: 21:00-01:00 / 02:00-04:00
Website: http://ukinsolomonislands.fco.gov.uk
Sign-up for travel alerts
Subscribe to receive email alerts for the country of your choice