Q1 Arrivals Up 50 Percent
International Visitor Arrivals to Papua New Guinea (PNG) increased by almost 50 percent in the first quarter of 2007. Between January & March, some 24,986 visitors came to PNG, an increase of 8,261 extra arrivals compared to the corresponding period in 2006. Business travel grew by 62 percent while the holiday segment grew by 25 percent. The European market continues to experience the highest growth in tourist numbers followed byAustralia, Oceania, Asia and New Zealand.

Kokoda Lures Aussies

THE challenges of walking the war time Kokoda Track continues to lure more tourists with a record 900 tourists walking the 96 kilometre track in April. They were dominated by young Australians, many of them appreciating more the historical significance of the track in the defence of their country and now walking in the footsteps of their heroes. The beaches of Gallipoli is thousands of miles away and many Australians now find Kokoda a more rewarding experience as 400 of the trekkers attended the ANZAC Day services at the picturesque Bomana War Memorial outside Port Moresby. Another 300 attended a moving service at Isurava Memorial along the track as the first light of dawn pierced through the mist covered valleys. As at April some 1200 trekkers have walked the Kokoda Track.
                 

American Perspective on PNG
AMERICANS did not share the negative view ofPapua New Guinea so prevalent in Australia. Columbia University anthropologist Paige West said it seems to her that the pervasive image of PNG so prevalent in Australia is one of violence, danger and rape but there's so much more to life in PNG. "I think it limits the Australian public's imagination when it comes to coming to PNG to do sport fishing, diving, surfing and all the things that you could do here that are quite safe," she said. (Source: The National May 25, 2007)

The Hunt for Big fish

AMERICAN Larry Dahlberg has hooked every big fish imaginable in every corner of the world but there was one mighty fish he hadn't tried yet - the Niugini Bass. So mid-April he travelled from theUnited States to Baia Wilderness Lodge in West New Britain to lure in that one fish that has captured his imagination for all these years. A friend who visited Papua New Guinea 11 years ago had told him about this tough fish that snaps lines with such power and ferocity. "I am very excited about this trip because Niugini Bass is supposed to be one of the toughest fish in the world and I am here to find out," said Dahlberg. He has been to 77 countries and caught every big fish "you ever heard of and many you never heard of". Dahlberg who begun his love affair with fishing as a 11 year old started The Hunt for Big Fish in 1991 and its television segment has about 1 million viewers in the US every week. "I love fishing, big fish make my heart beat faster," he says with excitement.

Bougainville - Paradise Undiscovered

BOUGAINVILLE - once a strife torn island due to civil war - is slowly but surely opening up again to the outside world, particularly to tourists. While many of its attractions in diving, fishing, surfing, trekking, nature tours, bird watching, island hoping, cultural experiences or simply enjoying the local hospitality remain unexplored. It's other fierce history - that of World War II - is now attracting tourism numbers, particularly from Japan. Recently, about 20 war veterans accompanied by a film crew retraced their war history back to the island. Bougainville is also the site of the plane wreck of the famous Japanese war hero of its Pacific campaign General Yamamoto. Email info@pngtourism.org.pg

Le Riche Colours

NATHALIE Le Riche, a leading Papua New Guinea (PNG) artist continues to fly the country's flag on the world stage with her unique style of bold, vibrant and colourful art. Her art is indeed a tribute to all things positive and timeless about PNG. Her work attracts international acclaim with a sound reputation in the collectors circles established through numerous arts contracts and art licences out of New York . Domestically, you can see her colourful art on aircraft bodies, as murals in selected offices, banks and airport terminals. Natalie's tropical fish range and faces of people in Singsing colours have positively branded PNG as an exciting tourist destination. Le Riche Colours have now put out a new range of art products in six unique gift card designs featuring the diversity of PNG. For more details on the gift cards and others email nat@global.net.pg

Haus Poromon Closes Door Temporarily

THE Haus Poroman Lodge in Western Highlands has been closed temporarily. Haus Poroman perched on a ridge top surrounded by beautiful gardens overlooking the city ofMount Hagen is popular for bird watching, nature tours and cultural experiences. The lodge's management says it will advise of its re-opening around August/September 2007.

Hiri Moale 2007

THE popular annual Hiri Moale Festival will be held at theEla Beach in Port Moresby from September 13 - 17, 2007. Organisers say the event which depicts the historical significance of the Hiri trade between the Motuan people and their Gulf neighbours to the west will be bigger and better this year. As in the past, the symbol of the Hiri Moale Festivals today remains the giant double-hull Lakatois (canoes) which plied these waters risking many lives over many months to trade fish for food from the west. Today, the Lagatois are sailed into Ela Beach by certain chosen villages accompanied by singing and dancing. A highlight of the Hiri Moale Festival is the Hiri Hanenamo or Hiri Queen quest.

Milamala Festival 2007

THE popular Trobriand Islands Yam Festival is set to be a big hit again this year. Known as the Milamala Yam Festival, it is celebrated mainly by the inland villages of the main island, Kiriwina, after a bountiful harvest. The festival this year will also include a Kula Expedition in the true Kula style fromKiriwina Island to the northern picturesque Kitava Island. The festival will start with the launch of the Kula Expedition on July 30 and end with the closing of the Milamala Festival on August 11. The Trobriands are known as the Islands of Love and the yam plays a significant role in their society so its harvest is celebrated in style. For more info www.pngtourism.org.pg

Waiver on Visa Fees

THE national government has announced the waiver of entry visa fees for bona fide tourists from primary source markets of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe and the United States. Cabinet also announced it will make available K39 million (US$15 million) over the next three years to implement the National Tourism Master Plan (2007 - 2017). It further approved the establishment of a national task force on tourism to be chaired by the Prime Minister. Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive office Peter Vincent welcomed the government's decisions saying tourism in the country has seen a steady growth in the last three years. Mr Vincent said such support by government would go a long way in further growing the industry in PNG.

Morobe Tourism Celebrates 10th Anniversary

CONGRATULATIONS to the Morobe Tourism Bureau on your 10th anniversary onJune 4, 2007. The Board, management and staff of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority congratulates the MTB on this milestone achievement as you continually strive to promote tourism in Lae City and Morobe Province. The popular Lae Show has been and still remains a major part of the MTB's annual events staged in October. Visit www.morobetourism.org to find out more about tourism in Morobe.

3rd Arts & Crafts Exhibition
THE 3rd Arts & Crafts Exhibition will be staged by the National Cultural Commission from 26 - 28 October, 2007 inPort Moresby. More than 100 exhibitors representing different provinces of Papua New Guinea will showcase arts and crafts from the respective areas.

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