Waipora Promotes Lake Tengano in Taiwan

The Minister for Provincial Government, Japhet Waipora, said the Solomon Islands government is seeking foreign investors to develop Renbel Province's Lake Tegano as a tourism hotspot.

Mr Waipora told the chairman of a tourist resort in Yulin, John Kao, yesterday that the World Heritage site of Lake Tegano, in the Rennell and Bellona Province, had a great potential to become a hot destination for tourists if developed into a holiday resort.

The Ocean Leo Resort as it is called is situated in Yulin, which is an hour's drive east of the Taiwanese capital of Taipei. The resort, established some 10 years ago, boasts a museum of its own and a beautiful garden as well as a health spa that has attracted holidaymakers from afar including the King of Swaziland and his wife.

Minister Waipora said he was impressed by the hospitality at the resort and its beautiful and serene environment. He said he would welcome the Ocean Leo Resort company to establish a resort in Solomon Islands particularly at Lake Tegano.

"Lake Tegano has a great potential to become a tourist Mecca. The scenic lake is the biggest high-rise lake in the Pacific. It is home to some birds found nowhere else in Solomon Islands."

"I believe that Lake Tegano would lure tourists into Solomon Islands should a resort be built there," Mr Waipora said.

He said he would persuade the Solomon Islands government upon his return to Solomon Islands to formally invite the Ocean Leo Resort to consider opening up a resort at the Lake Tegano.

The Minister for Provincial Government is in Taipei with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Mr Sogavare and Mr Waipora and a six member Solomon Islands government delegation had been invited for a brief visit in Taipei on their way home to Solomon Islands after attending the 2nd Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in Majuro, Marshall Islands last week.