Surfing Movement Impresses PM

PRIME Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was pleasantly surprised at the growth of the surfing movement in Papua New Guinea. Opening the 2007 PNG National Surfing Titles in Vanimo on Feb 15, Sir Michael said after 20 years, PNG surfing has developed against all odds and has proven that it should be supported by both the industry and the government as a sport and a niche tourism product for our country. Surfing Association of PNG President Andy Abel said the inaugural titles attended by about 200 surfers was the result of 20 years of dedication and hard work.  The World Bank also presented SAPNG with its Strategic Development Master Plan which was developed with input from all SAPNG affiliated clubs around the country and will guide the development of surfing as a sport in parallel with surf tourism.

QE2 visit a Success
THE ash covered township of Rabaul - once hailed the Pearl of the Pacific - came alive on March 1, following the arrival of MV Queen Elizabeth 2. Some 2000 tourists were given tours of the town and its rich history while the shores of the picturesque Simpson Harbour was bustling wih activity as tourists snapped up Papua New Guinea souveniers of arts and crafts including carvings and bilums (traditional string bags). Traditional groups were also organised by local tour operator Paivu Tours to provide cultural entertainment for the tourists.

More Positive Growth in January And February

MORE positive growth in international visitor arrivals to Papua New Guinea was recorded for the month of January and February 2007. There were a total of 14,684 visitors compared to the same period last year, an increase of 54.3 percent. Of the total, 42 percent were here on business while 23 percent came on holiday, and others including education and employment made up 35 percent of total arrivals. Overall, the holiday segment showed a healthy growth of 95 percent while business segment increased by 83 percent compared to January 2006. This follows closely from the 12 percent overall growth rate achieved in 2006.

Exploring the Sepik River

A new companion to help adventurous travellers experience one of the last great wilderness on the planet - the mighty Sepik - has been launched. The new community-tourism publication ' Sepik River - Nature & Community Tourism' is a guide to one of the most important centres of biological and cultural diversity in the world. The Sepik is both unique and vast and harbours an abundance of animal species to discover, including more marsupial species than anywhere else in the world; amazing bird life such as Birds of Paradise, kingfishers, herons, eagles, small parrots and cockatoos; reptiles, ranging from tiny lizards to enormous crocodiles; a large variety of snakes including gigantic pythons and an extensive number of butterflies, including one of the largest known butterflies, the goliath Birdwing Butterfly. The lives, customs, beliefs and languages of the indigenous groups are also linked inextricably with the geography of the Sepik. The guide produced by the WWF in association with Divine Word University was launched at the inaugural Crocodile Festival held on March 1 - 2, 2007. (Source WWF web www.wwfpacific.org.fj)

Air Niugini launches services to Fiji, Cairns

Papua New Guinea's national flag carrier Air Niugini has commenced flight to Fiji through Honiara on March 23, 2007. It will also open direct seasonal services between Cairns, Australia and Tokua, Rabaul from April. The Fiji service will be twice weekly on Friday and Sunday from Port Moresby to Nadi and returning on Saturday and Monday. Air Niugini will also operate two weekly flights for the Tokua-Cairns service during April and September to stimulate tourism from Cairns to Rabaul as well as neighbouring Kavieng which is fast becoming popular as a surfing destination. Visit www.airniugini.com.pg

PNG Dive in Japan

PAPUA New Guinea's exotic and colourful dive spots will be showcased to the Japanese market at the Marine Diving Fair in April. This follows PNG's participation at the Diving Festival held from January 26-28 in Tokyo. PNG is ranked among the top 5 dive destinations in Japan and the world. Visit www.pngtourism.org.pg or email info@pngtourism.org.pg.

Gogodala Canoe Festival

The mention of Gogodala immediately brings to mind those big long single hull canoes paddled by up to 30 standing and chanting warriors. Dressed in traditional wear, these decendents of once fierce headhunters take pride in painting their canoes with elaborate and distinct paintings and a totem of a bird or crocodile proudly carved out on the front of the canoes to represent each of their clans. The Gogodalas and their canoes have been a major attraction at the National Kundu & Canoe Festival in Alotau in the past 2 years. However, the local community at Balimo in Western Province - the home of the Gogodala - also have a canoe festival of their own. The 2007 Gogodala Canoe Festival will be held from April 25 - 27, 2007 when the lakes in this area of vast wetlands celebrates the canoes that is their identity.

US$2 Billion by 2010
SOUTH Pacific's tourism marketing and development organisation, south-pacific.travel has predicted target revenue for the sector of USD2 billion per annum by 2010. Chief Executive Tony Everitt said tourism in the region certainly has the greatest sustainable growth potential. Quantifying this potential in a hard target that everyone can remember and understand is a step towards making it happen. south-pacific.travel carried out analysis on the value of tourism to the region in 2005 which conservatively estimated the setcor's value at about USD1 billion in 2000, from a little under 1 million international visitors. By 2004, the figures had grown to USD1.5B from about 1.2 million visitors. "If we could maintain the same growth rate for the second half of the decade that was achieved in the first half, we could be looking at a USD2B per annum industry by 2010," noted Mr Everitt. (Source south-pacific.travel)  

Business Development Workshop

A week long workshop on business development was successfully completed in Kokopo, East New Britain recently. Jointly hosted by the World Bank's Private Enterprise Partnership - Pacific, and Papua New Guinea's Tourism Promotion Authority and Investment Promotion Authority respectively, some 30 participants including bankers, commerce officers, micro-finance agents, tourism operators and projects proponents met to discuss how best to produce and deliver "bankable" tourism project proposals which will be accepted by commercial banks for funding assistance. This was the second such workshop following the one held in the highlands region last October.

New Ireland & ENB Launch Tourism Plans
THE Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority in partenrship with the respective provincial governments has launched the model provinces' five year tourism plans for New Ireland and East New Britain. Culture & Tourism Minister Hon. Nick Kuman MP launched the plans in the provinces on February 21 and 27 respectively. TPA Board chairman Hon. Kimson Kare MP launched the plan for Eastern Highlands on March 15, while Madang will follow on March 22. The model provinces concept was initiated by PNG TPA to brand, package and market each of the 5 provinces including Milne Bay as stand alone tourism destinations in PNG.

MV Pacific Venus Visits Madang

CRUISE ship MV Pacific Venus visited Madang on January 30, 2007 bringing with it 344 Japanese and 3 Korean tourists. Madang - the prettiest town in the Pacific - put on a traditional bamboo band welcome for the tourists and 202 crew members. Melanesian Tourist Services organised village tours, cultural performances and nature tours to Balek Habitat and Butterfly Farm. It took almost 3 years of negotiations and preparations by PNG TPA Tokyo office, the agent Adventure Endless Holidays and the cruise company to make the visit possible. PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is confident MV Pacific Venus will return for more visits in future.

Final Word
THERE are many new and exciting developments taking place in the tourism industry in Papua New Guinea. If you wish to share them with us and the rest of world, please email ctaimbari@pngtourism.org.pg. A new development worth noting is the extension at the new Kokopo Beach Hotel (see picture) which will double as a dining and conference facility with a panoramic view of the ocean.

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