Tourism & Travel (Honiara): The newly appointed Minister for Culture & Tourism, James Bonuga, has met Tourism Solomons and the National Tourism Office team, with visitor numbers up to 28,548 last year (about 13% growth) and just 382 short of the 2019 record. Road Access (Honiara): Mendana Avenue CBD roadworks are ongoing until end-July, with lane narrowing and congestion expected; drivers and pedestrians are urged to follow traffic controllers’ directions. Local Events (Honiara): The Aelan Riddim Music Festival returns this weekend at Pacific Crown Hotel, featuring visiting artists from PNG, Fiji and Vanuatu alongside local performers. Regional Tourism (Recognition): Tourism Solomons has been honoured by PATA for 50+ years of continuous membership, highlighting long-running regional travel cooperation. Jobs & Youth (Travel-linked economy): A World Bank report says Solomon Islands must create more jobs for its growing youth population, pointing to mining, fisheries, infrastructure spending and labour mobility as key growth drivers. Culture (Festival update): NATPAN (National Panpipe Festival) will proceed July 1–5 despite government leadership changes, with a budget around $500,000. Prime Minister Travel (Business & security): PM Matthew Wale has begun his first official overseas visit to Australia, with talks in Canberra focused on regional security, economic development and climate resilience.