PNG Business Update

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) Chief Executive Officer Peter Vincent is expected to present a paper on tourism development in the country at the PNG Business Update forum to be held in Brisbane and Sydney on September 21 and 22. Mr Andrew Woodward of Gavin Anderson & Company - TPA's Australian Public Relations Agent - will assist Mr. Vincent in his presentation. The Update is an initiative of the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council (APNGBC) and will feature expert presentations on the current political, economic, commercial and investment climate in PNG, with a special session on the opportunities for tourism. The update also provides excellent opportunities for contact with a range of senior business people with wide experience of doing business in PNG. According to the APNGBC bilateral trade in goods and services between Australia and PNG exceeds Au$2 billion. There are excellent export opportunities in a wide range of sectors including food and beverages, building and construction materials, manufactured items, energy and environmental systems, hardware and general machandise, goods and service for the hospitality industry, rural telecommunications systems, leisure and sporting equipment and many more. PNG Treasurer and Minister for Finance Bart Philemon will provide the keynote addresses in Brisbane and Sydney. Economists from the Westpac Banking Corporation will provide overviews of the PNG economy on both days. The PNG tourism industry will be well represented over the two days with papers also being presented by Vilia Lawrence of PNG Dive Association, Ruth Dicker of Niugini Holidays and Sir Peter Barter in his capacity as chairman of the Melanesian Tourist Services (MTS). MTS is a major tour operator in PNG and Sir Peter is also the Minister for Inter-Government Relations and a Member of the PNG National Parliament. For more information on the Update email update@apngbc.org.pg

Tribal Colors Calender Out Now

PAPUA New Guinea’s many different tribes and cultures have been captured in the exciting “Tribal Colours” Calender 2005, which is out now. The calender consists of 12 unique and colourful tribal images by Kimbe based artist, Nathalie Le Riche. These magnificient calenders  will also be on sale throughout the USA giving great exposure for PNG. A percentage of the sales will be donated to the Rotary Club of Kimbe. Nathalie said she has great pleasure in sharing her artwork with others as well as establish a product that is educational at the same time.  "There are not many resources around where you can find information on the various tribes found within PNG.  I hope through my art I can help keep the culture alive and help promote PNG in a positive manner," she says. Apart from the 12 unique and colorful tribal images, each page of the calender has informative information on the various tribes highlighted in the calender. The calender is a perfect Christmas gift and can be purchased at Brian Bell outlets, Kimbe Rotary Club and other selected outlets. For further details email Nathalie Le Riche-Reiman: nat@global.net.pg or see more of Nathalie's Tribal and Reef Theme paintings at www.picturetrail.com/leriche!

International Visitor Arrivals Increase

Papua New Guinea continues to enjoy an increasing inflow of international visitors to the country. According to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), 29,506 people entered the country between January and June compared to 26,271 in the corresponding period in 2003, an increase of 12.3 percent.  It recorded increases in all major source markets such as Australia, Japan, Europe and America. While New Zealand and Oceania recorded decreases. The increases have been attributed to the development of new tourism products by TPA and its continued awareness, promotion and marketing both within PNG and abroad. Visitor arrivals from the Asian markets increased by 16%, while arrivals from the collective European markets jumped to 21% compared to 2003. The Japanese market continued to claim its growth as a major source market for Papua New Guinea with a 15% increase, while the Australian market continued to dominate by providing around 53.4% of the total  international arrivals, an increase of 13% from last year. These also meant holiday visitors to PNG increased by an overwhelming 34%, although business visitors continued to dominate with 63% of the overall visitor arrivals. Some 77 people also came to PNG to visit friends and relatives, providing an increase of 3.7% in this category. Surprisingly,  the Americans provided 53% of the total number of holiday makers to visit PNG in this period followed by the European market.      

The Spiritual Art of Canoe Making

The everyday life of the Milne Bay people on the Eastern Tip of the Papua New Guinea's mainland mainly evolved around the spiritual world. The art of canoe making was no different but sadly, is now rarely practicised due to the influences of Christianity and modernisation. However, tourism is now being used as a vehicle to revive this dying culture with the introduction of the Canoe Festival which will be staged from November 5 -7, 2004 in the idylic township of Alotau. National playwrite and cultural-tourism advocate John Kaniku believes strongly about the need to educate the young generation about traditional canoe making and the preservation of this rich culture. Mr Kaniku, who is also from Milne Bay, is the chairman festival organising committee. He says the main objective of the festival is to create an annual event of some significance to Milne Bay people so they can also use it to benefit from the fast growing tourism industry there and not become mere spectators. Stressing the importance of magic in Milne Bay culture, he says, for instance, Gebo making, especially in the Tawali area is programmed from start to finish, even before they touch the tree. They would start by chasing away the bad spirits from the tree and then ask the good fairies to move onto another tree before they put an axe to fell it. "The Gebo is special because it has a soul so there must be the preparation of the mind, body and spirit. If you are not prepared, don't go into the canoe because the canoe is the spirit and you got to be in touch with the spirit first," he explains. He believes his people have forgotten the meticulous and spiritual art of canoe making and the festival will hopefully revive this culture. The Gebos are normally used for fishing and general sea transport and are normally paddled by one person including children. More than 60 different canoes of different sizes and shapes including war canoes will be plying the waters between Samarai and Logea Islands and Alotau but mainly within the Sanderson Bay during the festival. The festivities will involve canoe racing, dry river canoe race, cultural events, exhibitions, arts and crafts, side shows, choirs, crazy raft race and the 'Tour de Milne Bay' bicycle race. The Canoe Festival is an initiative of the Milne Bay Tourism Bureau and supported by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Cultural Commission as a themed National Cultural Event similar to the National Mask Festival in Rabaul and others. Currently, preparations are well underway and there is a lot of in the air about staging the event. For more information email info@milnebaytourism.gov.pg     

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