Everyone that visits Papatura Island Retreat is doing their bit for the local villages as we pay them to enjoy their waterways for recreational purposes. We are proud to introduce tourism to this wonderful part of the world as it low impact and sustainable unlike commercial fishing or logging. The locals benefit in many different ways with direct employment, sub contracting with building and supply of materials and supply of fresh fruit, vegetables and lobster or mud crab. We encourage them to create their own micro business for example the guests now go to Kolopakisa Village once during their stay for a traditional dinner and dance show. Also we sponsor the grade 6 students from Baolo School, they have a singing competition and the guests are the judges. There is many more opportunities for those who are willing to be involved as we need tours for turtle watching, bush foods and traditional garden tours, night time crocodile spotting and list goes on. We plan to start village stays up and down the East coast of Isabel which will all be based out of Papatura Island Retreat.
Papatura also is the agent for Suavanao air strip which was left unattended and un kept after the logging camp moved on, last month the saw the opening of new leaf haus terminal so both guests and locals can shelter from the elements should they need to. The strip is now one of the best maintained in the country. As soon as Telekom has communication in the area we plan on opening a post office and bank branch so the school teachers, nurses and government employees etc don’t have to travel 5 hours by boat to Buala or fly to Honiara to access their pays. We need internet access to provide this service but feel it will be a good opportunity for guests to mix and mingle with Isabel locals.
In additional to the above we are proud to have supplied Sisiga, Baolo and Kia school books for their libraries and have donated soccer uniforms to some of the schools. We encourage all guests to bring educational items or sporting goods to donate when visiting the village or school.
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