SANMA SG sees economic boost from Santo’s first 2025 cruise ship

The newly appointed Secretary General of the Sanma Provincial Government Council (SPGC), Jonathan Iyawel, stated that Sanma Province was honored to welcome its first cruise ship of 2025 to visit the island last week, on January 15th. This marks a significant milestone for the province's tourism industry.

Secretary General Iyawel noted that over 300 mothers contributed to the local economy by selling goods and providing services such as hair braiding, shoulder and foot massages along key routes, including the main entrance to the wharf, the city center, and Unity Park. He emphasized that this dynamic interaction between tourism and local entrepreneurship creates a vibrant and diverse atmosphere, providing a variety of services for both tourists and locals while also supporting the livelihoods of these vendors.

Secretary General Iyawel further stated that increasing the number of cruise ship visits could be an effective strategy for Sanma Province to boost its local economy. He believes that tourist spending on goods, services, transportation, and even entertainment can directly benefit vendors and also stimulate growth in other sectors such as hotels, transportation, retail, and even infrastructure development.

He also pointed out that by positioning Santo as an investment destination, the goal is to establish a sustainable development model, create employment opportunities, and improve infrastructure, while fully utilizing the potential of tourism and other industries. Secretary General Iyawel believes that now is the time for Santo to establish a resilient economic corridor for Sanma Province to promote long-term development. Once the corridor is established, they will focus on its economic impact.