smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Solomon Islands
| Solomon Islands overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 03 September 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (heightened political tension in the period surrounding the election of the Prime Minister on 25 August 2010 and during the formation of a new Government). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
National general elections were held in Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. The election of the Prime Minister will occur on 25 August 2010. The formation of a new Government could heighten existing political tensions in the Solomon Islands. During this period, you should exercise caution and avoid protests, large gatherings and political rallies as they may turn violent, and monitor local information sources for updates. In April 2006, political tensions led to riots in the city centre, eastern Honiara and Chinatown, following the election of the Prime Minister. The riots caused significant destruction of property.
There was a security incident in Honiara on 12 August 2010 in which a Solomon Islander died and another was injured. The potential exists for further violent incidents.
You should pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Security incidents can also occur at sporting events. You should exercise caution at all times.
Industrial relations disputes and strikes have the potential to create tensions and disruption to transport, including international air links, and the supply of essential services. You should remain alert to any signs of local unrest and avoid large gatherings.
Criminal activity is of particular concern in Honiara and sometimes involves violence. We advise you to exercise caution in Solomon Islands because of the risk of criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Expatriates and visitors are attractive targets for crime. Verbal harassment, intimidation, assault and indecent assault occur periodically.
You should exercise caution at nightclubs and bars as drunken assaults have occurred. House and vehicle break-ins occur, including against expatriates. Attacks on vehicles, such as stoning of vehicles and blocking of roads, occur periodically. There have also been incidents of more serious attacks on vehicles, including hijacking, robbery and involving sexual assault, particularly at night. Areas of particular concern in this regard include Lungga, White River, Borderline and settlement areas in and around Honiara. The incidence of crime typically increases during the Christmas period, in the lead-up to major holidays and following periods of political instability.
Visitors are advised to avoid walking, jogging or cycling after dark, or in the early hours of the morning and to be cautious when driving at night. Take particular care when using automatic teller machines and visiting the local markets, including Central Market in Honiara.
The presence of firearms in the community, particularly those in the hands of criminal elements, is a low but continuing risk.
If you are planning to travel outside Honiara to rural Guadalcanal, Malaita and other provinces, you should contact the High Commission for an update on the security situation prior to travel.
You should consider taking precautions when travelling by sea, such as providing your own life-jackets, as safety regulations are not always strictly applied. Passenger ferry and flight services throughout Solomon Islands are routinely subject to change at short notice. Overcrowding of passenger ferries is common and can increase the safety risk.
Fire safety regulations are not always strictly applied. In planning your activities, consider fire safety standards.
Most roads in Solomon Islands are in a poor state of repair making driving difficult. Poor vehicle maintenance and poor standards of driving also increase the risks. See also our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
Domestic flights schedules are generally unreliable and subject to disruption. You should contact airlines directly to check the status of flights.
For further information, please refer to our Aviation Safety and Security travel bulletin.
Cyclone season is between November to April when flooding, landslides and disruptions to services may occur. However, tropical storms and cyclones may occur in other months. The direction and strength of tropical cyclones can change with little warning. Information on severe weather is available from the World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre, Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts or the Global Disaster Alert Coordination Systems.
If you are travelling during cyclone season, you should contact your tour operator to check whether tourist services at your planned destination have been affected.
In the event of an approaching cyclone, you should identify your local shelter. We encourage Australians in affected areas to follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the media for the latest developments. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. The cyclone could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans. You should carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. passport, photo identification) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather – Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons.
Solomon Islands is subject to earthquakes, volcanic activity and tidal waves. An earthquake of 8.00 magnitude occurred in April 2007, triggering a tsunami and resulting in casualties and widespread damage and flooding in coastal regions of Western and Choiseul Provinces. The island of Savo, 35 kilometres north west of Honiara, is a cyclically active volcano.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.
Solomon Island authorities provide advice of any impending natural disaster threat through local media, radio and television.
If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Fresh and salt water crocodiles are native to parts of Solomon Islands, including areas close to Honiara. Local advice should be sought before entering unfamiliar waters.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Solomon Islands, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Homosexual acts (by either sex) are illegal and penalties include jail sentences.
It is illegal to import or possess pornographic material. Offenders may be fined.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Solomon Islands and you should take care not to offend. Public displays of affection may cause offence.
Solomon Islands does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Solomon Islands dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We recommend that you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Solomon Islands for the most up to date information.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in Solomon Islands are very limited, with medical services in rural areas generally unavailable.
Rescue and emergency services are extremely limited. Evacuations are generally required in cases of serious illness or accident. Medical evacuations from Solomon Islands to Australia can cost upwards of AUD40, 000.
The Divers Alert Network (DAN) can provide information on diving safety. There is a hyperbaric (decompression) chamber in Honiara and registered dive operators can provide advice on the access arrangements.
Malaria occurs throughout the year in most areas of Solomon Islands. We recommend that you seek medical advice on taking prophylaxis against malaria and that you use an insect repellent at all times. Outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness, dengue fever, occur from time to time. For information on dengue fever, see the World Health Organization’s factsheet.
Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, tuberculosis, filariasis and sexually transmitted infections) are prevalent, with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Ciguatera poisoning from eating reef fish can be a hazard. For more information on ciguatera poisoning see Queensland Health's fact sheet.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
In Solomon Islands, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian High Commission
Cnr Hibiscus Ave and Mud Alley
Honiara
Telephone (677) 21 561.
If you are travelling to Solomon Islands, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
