Arrivals increase in
May
The international visitor arrivals to Papua New Guinea in
May increased by 24 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2004. A
total of 5,988 visitors were recorded in 2005 while there were 4,838 visitors in
2004. Of the total to visit this year, 78 percent came for business, while
holiday and leisure recorded 22 percent. This is a decrease from the month
of April, which recorded an increase in travel and leisure at 24 percent.
Despite the decrease in holiday visitors in May, the Japan market
continued to record a positive growth 39 percent. Overall, PNG continues to
record positive growth in every month since the beginning of this
year.
Kokoda Sustainable Tourism
Workshop
The Kokoda
Sustainable Tourism Workshop will be held in Kokoda on July 14 - 15 to gauge
views of the landowners, tour operators and other stakeholders on who best the
historical track can be continuously developed at a sustainable level. Overseas
speakers include Dr Stephen Wearing of University of Technology Sydney and John
Perrottet of Pacific Enterprise Development Facility. Madang based Paul
Chatterton of World Wildlife Fund will also speak at the workshop. It is an
initiative of the Kokoda Track Foundation in conjunction with the Kokoda
Track Authority and is a follow-up from the last year's similar gathering in
Australia. Kokoda Track Foundation raises money in Australia to provide
education scholarship for students along the track and also supports health and
sports projects on the track. For more infor email: kokodatrackauthority@global.net.pg
North Star begins PNG Cruises in
November
Australia's
North Star Cruises (NSC) will start operating its "Papua New Guinea - New
Adventures in Paradise' starting November 9. These will include back-to-back
cruises between Alotau to Rabaul. NSC director and partner Craig Howson was in
PNG mid-June accompanied by ship master Brad Benbow and business friend Rob
Malcolm. They were accompanied to Tufi and the magical islands of Milne Bay by
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority marketing & promotions manager Jim Yomapisi
to confirm logistics and other ground work and were impressed with what
they saw. The team also visited Rabaul and its outer islands and Goroka.
North Star promises its clients that the adventure will be one never to be
forgotten. For more info visit: www.northstarcruises.com.au
Watut River
Tragedy
The wild and rugged Watut River in Morobe Province
claimed the lives of three Israelis in late May. Yisrael Yeruham of Gadera,
Shlomo Haruvi (62 years) of Haifa and Itamar Haikin (52 yrs) of Tel Aviv were
all part of the Neharot Expeditions - a private world white water rafting
expedition based out of Israel. The three died as a result of an unfortunate
accident, when their boat dropped into a canyon and flipped over causing them to
drown in the fast flowing river. Neharot Expeditions said despite their many
years of rafting experience and strict safety precautions, the confrontation
with the elements led to tragic results. PNG Minister for Culture &
Tourism Hon. David Basua expressed sympathy at the loss and sent condolences to
family and friends of the deceased. The bodies left PNG soil on May 23 on
their way back home to Israel for burial via Australia. However, despite
the tragedy, several surviving members of the expedition vowed to return to
PNG as they had been captivated by the beauty of our people, culture and
environment. The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority also acknowledges the loss
of lives and convey our sincere condolences to family and
friends.
Season of
Festivities
IT's that time of the year again when the colour,
diversity and spectacular traditional cultures of Papua New Guinea is once
again displayed at equally unique festivities right across the
country. We begin with the exotic islands of Milne Bay and the Milamala Yam
Festival in Kiriwina from July 13 -15. The vibrancy of the Tolai culture comes
to life with Tavurvur Volcano spewing ash in the background at the Warwagira
from July 6 - 12 followed 10th National Mask Festival from July 13 -16 both in
Rabaul. Dance with the Tumbuans of just enjoy the tranquility of the Rabaul
- Pearl of the Pacific. In August, we travel to the Highlands and the
unique Enga Cultural Show from August 12 -14. Also from August 12 -
14, we dwell into the unexplored cultures of the Tufi Cultural Show
surrounded by its exotic and breathtaking fiord land scenery. The popular
and colourful Mount Hagen Cultural Show from 20 -21 ends the festivities for
August. For more info on events and festivals email: info@pngtourism.org.pg or visit:
www.pngtourism.org.pg
All welcome to attend SPTO
Conference
There are less than three months to go before
5th biennial South Pacific Tourism Conference to be staged in Port Moresby
from October 17 - 21, 2005. It is expected to be the biggest regional gathering
on tourism and will draw ministers, diplomats, senior executives, industry
partners and stakeholders from around the region and the globe. The
PNG organising committee hereby invites all interested parties to attend this
important conference. Registration for local Papua New Guinea participants will
be advertised in the local media shortly, while international participants can
register online by visiting: www.pngtourism.org.pg
or www.spto.org Conference program
and speakers' profile can also be seen here. For more info email: ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg or
jyomapisi@pngtourism.org.pg. The South Pacific Tourism Conference will be a forerunner to the
Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting from October 25 - 30.
Lukim PNG 2005 - A Major
Success
Despite the crowd figures being slightly down from last
year, the 2005 Lukim PNG Nau (See Papua New Guinea Now) Tourism Exposition
was as major success for the organisers, exhibitors, buyers and the visiting
public. More than 2500 visitors came to the expo over the three days to see what
PNG can offer in terms of its unique and niche tourism products such as diving,
fishing, trekking, rafting, colour or just view the products and services
that are available in the tourism industry. For the first time, Lukim
PNG attracted international buyers from Australia, Germany, United Kingdom,
Scandinavia, Baltic and the United States and they were impressed with what
the 36 exhibitors put on show. Milne Bay Tourism won the best display booth
award. Major sponsors SP Brewery, Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority have been commended for supporting this
year's expo. A special thank you also to all exhibitors, all involved and a
very special mention to the PNG Tourism Industry Association for hosting another
successful
expo.
