10,000 More Visitors in 2005
MORE than 10,000 people compared to the preceeding year visited Papua New Guinea in 2005 marking an overall increase of 17.3 percent. Of the total 69,250 short term international visitors to PNG, more than 60 percent (45,098) were business visitors, while 35 percent (18,115)  were genuine holiday travelers showing growths of 22 and 7 percent respectively. Australia continued to dominate as the single highest source market for all sectors, while Japan (8 % or 5,401) and America (9 % or 6,491) also recorded positive increases. Japan recorded the highest increase in holiday segment by 67% (1,731) compared to 2004. PNG Tourism Promotion Authoirty estimates the total revenue receipt from tourism last year to be K488.5 million. The continued positive increases over the last three years is in line with PNG TPA's Corporate Vision 2004 - 2008 for 100,000 vistors to PNG by 2009 through our strategic marketing programs.               

ACP - EU Meet in Port Moresby

PAPUA New Guinea is set to host one of its largest ever high profile international meetings of African, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) and European Union (EU) economic ministers in Port Moresby. A technical advisory team from Brussels was in Port Moresby recently and advised the PNG Events Council to make preparations to host 600 delegates including 79 ACP ministers and 25 EU ministers. The Indoor Sports Complex at Waigani will be the main conference venue for the ACP ministers meeting from May 28 - 30 with the joint ACP - EU meeting to take place on June 1 & 2. The official opening of these important meetings will take place at the PNG National Parliament. Global and regional tourism trends and developments are also expected to be on the agenda for discussions.     

CDE backs PNG Tourism Projects

Festival Fever - Authentic, Mystical PNG Cultures
THE rich and diverse cultures of Papua New Guinea will once again be on display at these major cultural shows in 2006. 1: PNG Coffee Festival & Trade Fair (May 4 - 6) Goroka; 2: Tufi Cultural Show (Jun 9 - 11); 3: Tolai Warwagira (Jul 5 - 11) Rabaul; 4: National Mask Festival (Jul 12 -15) Rabaul; 5: International Orchid Spectecular (Aug 5- 6); 6: Independence Day (Sept 16); 7: Goroka Show (Sept 16 & 17); 8: Morobe Show (Nov 4 - 5) Lae; 9: Kundu & Canoe Festival (Nov 6 - 12) Alotau. Others have yet to confirm exact dates including  Milamala Yam Festival (Jul - Kiriwina); Enga Cultural Show (Aug - Wabag); Mt Hagen Cultural Show (Aug - Mt Hagen); Garamut na Mambu Festival (Sept - Wewak); Hiri Moale Festival (Sept). Visit www.pngtourism.org.pg or email info@pngtourism.org.pg for more information.                                      

Lukim PNG Nau Tourism Expo 2006
THE Lukim PNG Nau Tourism Expo is ganing popularity each year and this year's expo scheduled for June 16 - 18 at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby promises to be even bigger and better. Lukim PNG Nau (See PNG Now) will hopefully be preceeded by the National Tourism Conference set for June 14 also at the Holiday Inn. Papua New Guinea's best in tourism products and services will be on display at the 2006 Lukim PNG Nau Expo. Other interesting events this year also include the National Game Fishing Titles in Lae from Apr 8 - 16 and the International Orchid Spectecular at the PNG National Parliament from Aug 5 & 6. Email info@pngtourism.org.pg for more details.

Kokoda awaits Michael Milton
THE world's fastest man on ice with one leg and Australian Paralympics champion Michael Milton is poised to tackle the rugged 96 kilometer Kokoda Track. Having recently scaled Mt Kilimanjaro, no challenge seems impossible for the 33-year-old Canberra native who became the world's fastest skier on one leg when in 2003 he skied at 193km/hr, smashing a world record that had been unchallenged for 16 years. A year later he broke the record three times in two days, clocking 198.68km/hr, agonizingly short of his 200km/hr goal. Arguably Australia's most popular paralympian with 6 gold medals, Milton is set to trek the Kokoda in June after the 2006 Winter Paralympics Games in Italy. Tour operator Kokoda Spirit will host Milton and others as part of a reward for Australia's Coca Cola Community Awards.   Visit www.kokodaspirit.com.au for more info.

Cyclist carries bike on Kokoda Track

SIBERIAN cyclist – Rob Lilwall - is determined to face his final challenge in PNG before crossing over to Australia to continue his “Cycling home to Siberia ” adventure trip. He is currently carrying his bicycle over the famous Kokoda Trail to complete his PNG adventure at Owers Corner. He has been boating and cycling from Siberia through Asia since September 2004 to raise funds for the Viva Network, a global charity group that helps children at risk around the world. His two year trip started from North East Siberia and will end in England . More details on his trip can be accessed from his website: www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.  

Biang Ngayam Festival
IN its efforts to boost tourism in Lae, Morobe Provincial Administration in partnership with business houses will be staging the inaugural Biang Ngayam Cultural Show from April 22 -25 under the theme 'Culture is the People'. The event will coincide with Rememberance Day (Apr 24) and will be a forerunner to the popular Morobe Show slated in for Nov 4 & 5 this year. Biang Ngyam will feature cultural performances from Morobe's 9 districts and other parts of Papua New Guinea. Other highlights include traditional costumes and cultural pageants.  

International Travel Trade Shows 2006
PAPUA New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority will once again participate in a number of premier Travel Trade Shows in 2006 to better place PNG in the International tourism market. This year’s premier events include the 2006 International Mediterranian Tourism Market (IMTM) in Israel and the Asia – Pacific Incentives and Meeting Expo (AIME) in Melbourne (Australia). PNG industry members are also encouraged to participate. Information on other trade shows can be found on our website: www.pngtourism.org.pg 

PNG's National Tourism Policy

THE National Executive Council has approved the National Tourism Policy and appointed a senior Ministerial Committee headed by the Deputy Prime Minister Sir Moi Avei to oversee the implementation of this policy. The first ever such document on PNG tourism development, the comprehensive policy takes into account both the public and private sector stakeholders so development and promotion of tourism is seen to be addressed holistically. The Ministerial Committee will further play a fundamental role in the development of the PNG tourism industry by supporting our objective to strengthen existing markets and penetrate new markets to achieve our target visitor arrivals of 100,000 by year 2009.

NZAID Supports PNG Tourism
New Zealand Aid (NZAID) continues to support Papua New Guinea tourism by funding two of PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) regional training for industry members. The first training program was run by Dave Bamford of Tourism Resource Consultants (NZ) Ltd in Madang last Oct for industry members in Momase andHighlands region. The second training program will be conducted in Rabaul for the New Guinea Islands and Southern region in March 2006. The training program will focus on World and Pacific Tourism and will also cover Tourism Businesses, Product development, Tour Guiding, Tourism marketing and Business planning.

Kabaira Dive - Rabaul

CHECK out the new Kabaira Dive website: www.kabairadive.com.pg and discover the once renowned dive location of the New Guinea Islands – Rabaul. Kabaira Dive will take you on a journey to discover the world class reefs, WW2 wrecks and best offers for a memorable diving experience. For more details and promotional materials please contact Stephen Woolcott on Stephen@kabaira.com.au. PNG Industry members with new and exciting products or services should email us @ info@pngtourism.org.pg or ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg for publication in our upcoming newsletters.

Successful Tourism Standards Training
PORT Moresby based industry members, key stakeholders and members of the Papua New Guinea Standards Committee attended the first PNG Standards and Tourism Training Workshop on December 14. As part of South Pacific Tourism Organization’s (SPTO) ongoing major project on Regional Standards, PNG Toursim Promotion Authority in liaison with SPTO conducted the workshop in Port Moresby with the aim of introducing to participants principles and processes of minimum standards, accreditation and star-rating systems and assist the Standards Committee members to embrace the concept, develop and implement standard quality assurance suitable in the PNG tourism industry.

National Museum undergoing maintenance

The national Art Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby has been temporarily closed due to current maintenance of its building at a cost of K2.5 million. Intending visitors to the museum and art gallery are advised that it will remain closed until February 3. Operators with pre-sold tour packages to the museum before Feb 3 should email us on info@pngtourism.org.pg or ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg for assistance.

Hot Spot of the Month
EACH month we will  bring to you a 'hot spot' of the month or a 'catch of the month'. Industry members or anyone with a picture of an exciting - new or existing - destination or product in PNG or a big catch (fishing etc), do send us your images plus a few lines for consideration for publications in our coming issues. January's 'hot spot' is the elusive Puatu Falls in the jungles of Labu Tale - 40 minutes by banana boat across the Huon Gulf from the port of Lae and another 3 - 4 hours of light trekking. For more info email ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg     

The Final Word
NEW Year's Greetings to all industry partners, stakeholders and international friends and visitors. Welcome to the first issue of PNG Tourism Newsletter for 2006. We thank you for supporting Papua New Guinea Tourism in 2005 and we hope you will continue to support us in 2006. Visit us at www.pngtourism.org.pg .

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