The second Bonfire Festival, held at the Heritage Park Hotel car park in Honiara on Saturday, 12th October, made a significant impact on the tourism, communication, and transportation sectors. The one-night event attracted a large audience, including international visitors and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, who came to perform. The festival’s organizer and founder, Jeremy Saeni, noted that many hotels were fully booked by foreign guests attending the event.
“During just one weekend, airlines transported many tourists, who in turn spent money in our local economy,” Saeni explained. “The Bonfire Festival also allowed airlines to promote our country as a travel destination and boosted tourism.” Additionally, Saeni highlighted that Our Telekom, the event’s gold sponsor, experienced a surge in data sales in the week leading up to the festival.
Lynette Adomea, a Bonfire committee member and administrator, explained the difference between a concert and a festival. “At a concert, you typically go to see a single artist or band. However, at a festival like Bonfire, a single ticket gives you access to performances by over 10 artists in one show.
” Adomea added that for many artists, participating in festivals is not solely about the money. “It’s about sharing their passion and connecting with the crowd. The audience gets to see all their favorite artists in one place, on one night.
” Local musician Jaro shared his optimism about the festival’s future.