The head of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation Ilisoni Vuidreketi says the tourism industry is heavily reliant on a well-established air transport sector and it's unfortunate the situation has escalated.
The Solomon Islands Aviation Authority says the issue arose when it refused a Fiji Airways request for an additional Saturday slot to fly direct from Nadi to Honiara.
Three weeks ago, Fiji authorities then denied the entry of a Solomon Airlines flight to Nadi and subsequently the Solomons government suspended any further Fiji Airways flights to and from Honiara.
The head of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, Ilisoni Vuidreketi, says the tourism industry is heavily reliant on a well-established air transport sector and it's only going to hurt the man on the street.
"For Solomon Islands which is just struggling to improve the contribution of tourism to the economy, you know having difficulties as such does not help at all so the impact on people on the ground are those who are dependent on this sector for their livelihoods which is a concern to all of us.
Already passenger traffic is being diverted through Brisbane from Fiji to get to Honiara.
