JOURNEYS

CEO's Message

of the first edition of the Journeys magazine, proudly brought to you by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. The objective of having a dedicated tourism magazine for our country is to showcase our beautiful destination Papua New Guinea, and update our readers about the current news and events from the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and our Tourism Industry. The Journeys Magazine will be published quarterly every year, and copies will also be available online.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a global health emergency, and a global economic slowdown impacting millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the world including the Pacific and of course Papua New Guinea.

Travel throughout Papua New Guinea begun well into the first quarter of 2022 with hotels in major cities being booked out for business meetings, workshops and quarantine of travelers. As stated by United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili at the September 2022 World Tourism Day and I quote, “In 2022, we once again recognize the opportunities that tourism has brought and continues to bring – people everywhere. However, this year especially, we also recognize that we cannot go back to the old ways of working. We must Rethink Tourism.”

Such strategies now include more focus on Domestic Tourism, Digital Marketing, Product Diversification and emphasis on partnerships.

I am glad to inform all readers that through this magazine some articles will feature Tourism champions in Domestic Tourism, updates and information about Digital Marketing, SME Businesses taking on the Food industry with the popular

Ito keep themselves going. Such strong determination and courage are shared by a couple of our operators whom we are pleased to also feature stories and interviews in this first edition of the Journeys Magazine. Events that happen overseas that gives PNGTPA an opportunity to promote the country have us participate. Dubai World Expo 2020 which happened in September 2021 and ended in March 2022 had PNG TPA participate as a lead agency.

COVID-19 is now endemic which means we all have to learn to live with it. PNGTPA developed the Safe Traveler campaign, a guide for Tourism Business to voluntarily adapt and practice the Niupela Pasin in all its facilities and operations. The safe traveler campaign gives confidence to our visitors that Tourism Business operations in and throughout PNG has clean and hygienic practices observed. The Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022–2026 is a road map for sustainable Tourism development implementation. With a reduced budget placed against our Plan, we will be making some strategic decisions to prioritise activities to undertake in 2023.

I am pleased that the first Tourism “Journeys” Magazine is now in completion as the primary objective of the Tourism Magazine is to feature Tourism news and events capturing stories from Papua New Guinea. The PNG Tourism Industry members are encouraged to supply us with any newsworthy stories or upcoming events. The quarterly Journeys Magazine will be distributed widely throughout Papua New Guinea. Our main target readership are Tourism Businesses, Stakeholders, Partners and everyone.

To conclude, I encourage you all to journey Papua New Guinea, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MR. ERIC. M. UVOVO Chief Executive Officer

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Tributes to memebers of Papua New Guinea's tourism industry who have passed.

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

Sir Peter Barter, GCL OBE | 1940 – 2022

Sir Peter Barter was an icon in Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry, more so in his province of residence Madang. He had a luminous career as a pilot, statesman, businessman and philanthropist. Sir Peter Barter was the owner and Managing Director of one of the country’s largest tourism businesses – Melanesian Tourist Services Limited, that included hotel accommodation like the Madang Resort and Kalibobo Village, the expeditionary vessels: Melanesian Discoverer and Kalibobo Express, as well as the scuba diving operation Niugini Dive Adventures in Madang. Sir Peter’s legacy to Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry spans over four decades. He will be remembered for his great passion and love for Papua New Guinea, his sharp wit, for being critical when it mattered the most, and always supportive of community initiatives.

Mr. Colin Taimbari | 1970 – 2022

Mr. Colin Taimbari was one of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s (PNGTPA) most senior staff members. Hailing from Oro Province, he commenced employment with the PNGTPA as a Public Relations Officer in 2003, then was promoted to Media Coordinator, and appointed Board Secretary. Ever passionate about tourism, Colin dedicated his energy to delivering on his many PR engagements across PNG where he dutifully served and represented the organization. He was a well-respected, sharp and charismatic figure amongst fellow PNGTPA staff and media peers. The PNGTPA acknowledges and continues to remember his invaluable contribution to the organization and the tourism industry for the last 19 years he served as a dedicated and committed officer.

A Million Different JOURNEYS

Mr. Nathan Lati | 1985 – 2021

Mr. Nathan Lati proudly served the PNGTPA as a product development officer from 1st June 2015 until his untimely passing on 7th November 2021. He is fondly remembered for his enthusiasm and tourism product knowledge of Papua New Guinea. A careful and thoughtful man, he loved to share his travel and tourism experiences and insights in conversation amongst peers, and by writing articles which were published in the daily newspapers, as well as his online blog Raun Raun. Nathan was an active member of the Divine Word University Alumni, and the East-West Center in Hawaii, USA. He was a proud Engan from Laiagam, who loved learning and exploring. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. Max Benjamin | 1947 – 2020

Mr. Max Benjamin was a PNG tourism trail blazer who traveled the world at every opportunity to share his great love and passion for diving and tourism in Papua New Guinea, especially at travel trade and consumer shows. He was the founder and proprietor of the world-renowned Walindi Plantation (diving) Resort in West New Britain. He settled along Kimbe Bay as a young Australian didiman (agriculture officer) in the 1970’s, his focus soon turned to tourism when he realized the amazing underwater beauty of the marine ecosystem in that region. Max encouraged extensive scientific research in the marine life of Kimbe Bay by establishing an NGO with his wife Cecile called Mahonia Na Dari (Guardian of the Sea). Its core program is the Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP) for local schools and communities. Max was also the longest serving president of the PNG Divers Association until the time of his passing. He remains profoundly missed by the PNGTPA and the scuba diving fraternity in Papua New Guinea.

Mr. Melly Paivu, OBE | 1935 – 2019

Mr. Melly Paivu was an iconic figure of tourism in East New Britain Province until his passing in 2019. Owner of Paivu Tours Pty Ltd, which he established in the early 1980’s, Melly was a passionate Tolai who loved showcasing his province and culture to visitors. A highly respected figure in the Gazelle District community, he was also a proud member of the Rabaul Historical Society, and one of the founders of the National Mask & Warwagira Festival – East New Britain’s signature cultural event.

PNGTPA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

By

Eight new board members were welcomed at a swearing in ceremony at the Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) office, Down Town, Port Moresby.

Magistrate Sandy Tiakin facilitated the legal oaths and affirmations of the ceremony, wherein the new members swore to uphold their awarded roles and duties, while upholding the mission and values of the PNGTPA.

Joining the PNGTPA Board are key industry heads: Mr. Andrew Abel, Mrs Keryn Hargreaves, Mr. Michael Cassell, Mr. Willie Gagma, Captain Andui Koralyo, Mr. John Pung and Mr. Dominic Ira.

The new board members represent Papua New Guinea’s tourism sector, including the airlines, tour operators, attractions, hotelier industry, as well as government and financial institutions.

Also present at the new board members swearing-in were PNGTPA’s CEO Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo and senior management: Director Corporate Affairs Ms. Abuti Kevin, Director Policy and Planning Ms. Ingrid Kuman, Director Provincial Coordination and Product

Staff Writers

Development, Mr. Heni Dembis, and Director Marketing Research and Promotions Ms. Alice Kuaningi.

The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) is a statutory body wholly funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea and established under the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Act 1993.

Main Image: Newly appointed Board Members of PNGTPA

Below: PNGTPA CEO Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo and Mrs. Keryn Hargreaves. Picture Credit: PNGTPA

For more information contact the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Office of the CEO: cleopatra.aramanat@papuanewguinea.travel

PNGTPA welcomes eight new board members to help promote tourism in PNG.

PNGTPA

RE-OPENING OF TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

The Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), just like all National Tourism Offices around the world, is welcoming travelers back to Papua New Guinea with the reopening of the Tourist Information Centre at the Jackson's International Airport in Port Moresby, Friday 14th October, 2022.

The reopening of the Tourist Information Centre at Jackson's International Airport was officially opened by CEO of the PNGTPA Eric Mossman Uvovo and CEO of the National Airport Corporation Rex Kiponge.

The Centre, will be open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4.30 pm, and will serve as an information hub for all tourism enquiries at Jackson's. There will be two friendly PNGTPA information officers who will be working full time at the Centre to assist enquirers.

The Centre is in an ideal location where visitors at the Jacksons

International Airport can easily walk over to the Tourist Information Centre to get information regarding travel and tourism, especially accommodation, tours, hire car, events and attractions in Papua New Guinea.

The Tourist Information Centre was operational in 2019, however closed its doors when the COVID -19 Pandemic affected travel globally.

In early 2021, the PNGTPA renovated the Tourist Information Centre, but handed it over to the Health Department and TrackPro to conduct PCR Testing for arriving passengers. The Centre was vacated early this year, allowing the PNGTPA and NAC to carry out further maintenance and renovation.

The PNGTPA is thankful to the National Airports Corporation for the enduring partnership over the last couple of years in helping promote tourism in the country. The PNGTPA and NAC will be signing an MOU to

set up similar Tourist Information Centers in other airports across Papua New Guinea.

Main Image: CEO of PNGTPA, Mr. Eric Uvovo, and CEO of the NAC, Mr. Rex Kiponge, re-opening the tourist information centre at Jackson International Airport.

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

For more information email Ms. Alice Kuaningi at marketing@papuanewguinea.travel

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Airports Corporation re-open the Tourist Information Centre at the Jackson's International Airport

FIRST IMPLEMENTATION STEERING COMMITTEE FOR TOURSIM SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority hosts the first Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026 Implementation Steering Committee (TSDP-ISC) Meeting

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority hosted its first Implementation Steering Committee Meeting for the recently launched Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026 on the 29th June 2022, at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby.

The Chief Executive Officer Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, chaired the inaugural meeting in the presence of sixteen organization representatives to deliberate on the purpose, functions and reporting mechanisms of the TSDP-ISC.

The Implementation Steering Committee (ISC) is the highest working committee that is designed to coordinate all tourism related agendas pursued under the various sub working committees that exist within the sector for national prioritization and development in Papua New Guinea.

The new ISC shall be managed under

the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and all secretarial duties will be administered by the PNGTPA.

Organizations whom have shown interest to be a part of this new committee were the following:

National Cultural Commission

Centre of Excellence in Financial Conclusion

National Development Bank

Investment Promotion Authority

National Trade Office

Small to Medium Enterprise Corporation

PNG Data Company Ltd

National Airports Corporation

National Maritime Safety Authority

Department of Higher Education Research and Science Technology

Conservation and Environment Protection Authority

National Institute of Standards & Industrial Technology

Kokoda Track Authority

National Capital District Commission

15. PNG Tourism Industry Association

Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea

The CEO provided his welcome remarks and invited organizations to become members of the ISC to help contribute to the implementation of the TSDP and to grow the industry in the next five years amidst the global pandemic.

Some of the work that will need to be done under the ISC include:

• The development of a National Tourism Standards and Regulatory Framework.

The proper design of a pricing strategy for Tourism.

The review of the cost of travel in the country.

• The active participation of land owners for tourism sites and attractions.

Tourism Taxation Incentives.

• Access to finance for Tourism related purposes of development .

• Youth empowerment through tourism initiatives.

International marketing restrategizing for PNG Tourism.

PNGTPA Brand awareness in country and abroad.

• Utilization of airline general sales agents overseas.

Strong partnership with PNG Kundu offices for destination and investment awareness.

Strong tourism investment incentives and so forth.

Mr. Uvovo further stated that through collaboration at the TSDPISC level, this will enable PNGTPA as the lead sector agency to steer the

development of the national tourism industry products and services to a level that is globally and regionally competitive.

The ISC plans to meet quarterly and envisions more organizations to join in the membership to provide sound advice and judgment for all tourism related matters that are escalated at the high level.

All provincial governments have been urged by the CEO to take ownership of the new tourism plan by participating in the ISC in order to ensure that the national plan cascades down to the provincial level through the setup of provincial ISCs as well. The Provincial-ISCs will be utilized to inform the national TSDP ISC as a

reporting mechanism for all tourism initiatives and issues encountered in the provinces.

The CEO also stated that stakeholder partnerships with the private sector will also be prioritized to ensure that plan achieves its full potential.

PNGTPA envisions hosting the second meeting in the third quarter of the year and has extended invitation to all other government agencies and private sector stakeholders who would like to be a part of the committee to express their interests to the PNGTPA Division of Policy and Planning for consideration and partnership.

Main Image: Launching of the TSDP with official guest speakers Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture Hon. Isi Leonard

Chart: The foundations of the PNG TSDP 2022-2026

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

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SAFE TRAVELER PNG GUIDELINES COORDINATION

Information on how the Tourism Promotion Authority adapted to the arrival of COVID-19 to our shores, and the strategies created to ensure the tourism industry would not be greatly affected.

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

The emergence of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) in late 2019 and later declared as a global pandemic in March 2020 has shifted the economic landscape of the world. Notably, the tourism and transport sector have been the hardest hit economic sectors amongst others.

Since the elevated risk of novel corona virus, the global tourism industry has experienced drastic economic impacts with travel coming to a standstill, therefore it is imperative that we navigate the unparalleled social and economic emergency that is COVID-19.

The Safe Traveler PNG Guidelines Program is an initiative of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) developed in December 2020 with the endorsement of the PNGTPA management and board, National Controller’s Office and the National Department of Health.

The program focuses on the ‘Niupela Pasin’ or simply reiterating the COVID-19 health and safety protocols in the tourism industry. The operators are to follow the COVID-19 protocols in order to maintain a clean, healthy and safe business for their guests and employees.

Following the passing of the National Pandemic Act 2020 and the new measures publicly circulated by the SOE Controller of PNG, PNGTPA has a responsibility to ensure tourism industry members are;

1. Well equipped with knowledge on COVID-19 and the necessary process for response, and

2. Meet basic hygiene and cleaning requirements

These guidelines are our way of ensuring implementation of this Act within the tourism and hospitality sector.

The following Seven Guidelines have been created for:

• The Traveler

• Accommodation (integrate into Accommodation Accreditation Program) • Operators with facilities • Operators without facilities • Cruise Shore Excursion Operators

• Tourist Attractions and Events

• Host Communities and villages

Aim of the program:

• Culmination of the Niupela Pasin and global best practices

• Safe Tourism protocols that ensure health and safety standards specific to the tourism industry of PNG

• Ensure a level of safety and awareness in the tourism industry of PNG – consumer confidence in the new normal

• The Guidelines aim to protect – the Traveler, the

Business,

the Workforce and the Host Communities

• Stamp of certification for tourist to recognize tourism destinations and business operators that have adopted health and safety protocols in their operation

• The Guidelines are subject to change pending directives from SOE Controller’s office and/or Department of Health.

Following the endorsement of the program, awareness campaigns were delivered in mid-2021 to East New Britain, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, West Sepik and the National Capital District. These visits focused on the objectives of the program to encourage membership. Membership to the program is free hence tourism operators are welcome to join the program at any time.

Main Image: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Representatives with Safe Traveler Workshop Participants in Sandaun Province, in 2021 Picture Credit: PNGTPA

WORLD TOURISM DAY REVIEW

A review on the annual World Toursim Day and the efforts made to improve tourism activities in PNG.

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

World Tourism Day Message from the CEO of PNGTPA, Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo:

This year, official World Tourism Day festivities will be taking place 2,180 miles west of Papua New Guinea, in neighboring Indonesia’s beautiful breathtaking Bali province. The theme for this year is, ‘Rethinking Tourism!’ and what a fitting theme it is, especially for Papua New Guinea. What with everything that has been going on both internationally and domestically, rethinking is exactly what the country needs. A rethinking of attitudes, a rethinking of systems and a rethinking of ways of doing things.

World Tourism Day gives us the opportunity to review tourism, rethink our approaches and mechanisms and reinvigorate our drive toward maximizing our country’s tourism potential.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has decided to use this theme for 2022 as a driving

force for the refocusing of efforts from corporate and industrial endeavors to an emphasis on people and the planet. As a member of the UNWTO the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) could not agree more with this theme and believes that a return to an emphasis on people and our planet is exactly what PNG needs as the country and the world begins a post-pandemic new way of life.

The UNWTO released a 'Resilience Through Crisis' series of videos featuring stories of tourism businesses in the Pacific and their survival stories during and after the pandemic. One of the stories featured PNG’s largest inbound tour operator, Trans Niugini Tours (TNT) and its owner Mr. Bob Bates - one of Papua New Guinea's pioneers in tourism. Mr. Bates, shared how he shifted his market focus from a reliance on international markets to domestic markets as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift has drastically changed the way in which tourism operators like TNT have had to do business and market their

products and services. Thus, move to bring prominence back to the people and the planet this year could not be more relevant and practically sound.

With this year’s theme being ‘rethink tourism’, PNGTPA reemphasizes the importance of tourism in PNG, especially living in the Post-COVID-19 new norm. The world’s governing tourism body (UNWTO) is now focusing on people and the planet and we at the PNGTPA are aligned with this direction.

We have begun rethinking our primary business objectives so we continue to promote and maintain growth in our tourism businesses particularly at the SME and MSME levels and are focused on preserving and protecting our biodiversity. PNG is a breathtaking place to visit and we are ready to receive all visitors.

-Chief Executive Officer, PNGTPA, Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo

Top Image: PNGTPA workers celebrating World Tourism Day Picture Credit: PNGTPA

By all accounts the potential for growth in tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is immense. The country’s strategic geographic positioning and its diverse flora and fauna, its dazzling natural beauty and its relatively intact and diverse traditional heritage are each main tourism products in themselves. In fact, Papua New Guinea remains an adventure destination for lovers of nature-based activities such as bird watching, trekking, diving, surfing and fishing to name a few.

While there are challenges for the tourism sector similar to those in many developing nations, the sector has taken some significant strides in the last 5 to 10 years to boost tourism growth. This has mainly been in the areas of increased investment in niche tourism products and services, the promotion of cultural events and festivities and the re-development of marketing strategies to better open up access to PNG’s wealth of destinations like the remote pristine islands and atolls for international cruise ship visits.

A number of major interventions by the private sector in key sectors such as cruise ships operations, staging and hosting of major events and activities have helped in the identifying of areas of need that need development to render tourism as a more viable economic sector. However, rethinking tourism is not enough. To truly

Left: Tourist posing with local children

Top Right: World Toursim Day Advert 1

Middle Right: World Tourism Day Advert 2

Bottom Right: World Tourism Day Advert 3

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

realize PNG’s full tourism potential, a carefully crafted plan is required.

Thankfully, the recently launched Tourism Sector Development Plan (2022 – 2026) is that plan and follows on from the National Tourism Master Plan (2007 – 2017). It envisions the overall economic value of tourism in the nation, explores how we can increase the numbers of tourist arrivals in Papua New Guinea and looks at ways to maximize sustainable growth for the social and environmental benefit of all Papua New Guineans.

Inter-agency cooperation is the cornerstone of the Tourism Sector Development Plan which the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) charged as lead agency to coordinate. The TSDP acknowledges that infrastructure and social issues such as crime need urgent addressing and that cooperation and coordination throughout all sub-sectors is essential for success.

Its overall goal is to support the national strategic plans of Vision 2050 and the MTDP III, contribute to PNG’s overall economic prosperity, and gradually make PNG less dependent on the non-renewable sector.

While implementation will be predominantly private-sector led, the government’s overall leadership will be necessary, and its timely financial investment for business growth and strengthening the enabling subsectors will be needed to provide the necessary impetus for the sector to expand.

At the end of the day, with ‘rethinking tourism’ in mind, PNGTPA encourages all partners, stakeholders and persons working in the tourism sector to come together as we celebrate World Tourism Day and collectively ‘rethink tourism’ for Papua New Guinea.

Rethink and Unlock Tourism

Potential

80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WWII KOKODA CAMPAIGN

Commemorating 80 years since the World War Two Kokoda Campaign.

By Pauline Riman

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) is one of several agencies supporting the activities and promotions of the World War Two Kokoda Campaign 80th Anniversary commemorations in 2022 and 2023.

As part of the Kokoda 80th Anniversary commemorations, the major activities and events undertaken were the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day celebration at the Kokoda Station that took place on the 3rd of November, 2022. This important event paid homage to the native men that assisted the Australian forces during the Kokoda Campaign. Read more: Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day.

The 2022 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day observance also marked the opening of two refurbished sites at the Kokoda Station – the Herbert Kienzle Memorial Museum, and the Kokoda Memorial Hospital.

The PNGTPA has partnered with national flag carrier Air Niugini to

offer a special extended-stay “80 (Australian) Dollars one-way airfare” promotion for trekkers who wish to explore other parts of Papua New Guinea after trekking Kokoda. The promotion begins November 2022 and ends February 2023, however it is valid for period of travel between 31st January 2023 and 31st December 2023. For more information, please contact Air Niugini tours on toll free 180 2121 or +675 327-3364, or visit the Air Niugini website.

The Kokoda Trail is a place of significant historical value to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. This shared heritage of Kokoda was more poignant during World War Two (WWII), beginning on the 21st July 1942, when a series of battles erupted across the trail between the allied and axis powers - mainly Australian and Japanese forces. Many lives were lost and immeasurable destruction wreaked upon the lives of natives and settlers during the Kokoda campaign.

A span of 80 years has passed since 1942, and Kokoda has become one of Papua New Guinea's leading tourist attractions, bringing in thousands of trekkers every year. The Kokoda Trail spans 96 kilometers connecting the provinces of Central and Northern (Oro) – from Ower’s Corner (Central) in the west to Kokoda Station (Northern) in the east. Kokoda provides not only a historical journey with several significant memorials

A Million Different JOURNEYS LATEST FROM TPA

along the trekking route, but also possesses spectacular scenic sites, and passes through villages that offers opportunity for visitors to experience the local and traditional cultures of the people of Koiari and the Orokaiva.

The Kokoda 80th Anniversary commemorations is part of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership

for Development - a joint initiative program of the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Government of Australia. Through the PNG Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is an agency involved in the Anniversary commemorations.

Main Image: The Isurava War Memorial, Oro Province

Picture Credit: Jackson Groves

Top Left: Australian soldiers in PNG during World War II

Bottom Left: The PNG Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

Picture Credit: Australian War Memorial

Above: PNG Tourism Minister and Australian High Commissioner paying tribute at Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day

Below: The Isurava War Memorial, Oro Province

Picture Credit: Sandra Jackson

RE-OPENING OF CRUISE TOURISM IN PNG

With travel restrictions lightened and international borders reopening, cruise tourism is making a comeback in PNG.

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

Cruise Tourism was one of the key agendas for the year following the easing of travel restrictions in Papua New Guinea for commercial Shipping, according to the Chief Executive Officer of PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) Eric Mossman Uvovo.

Mr. Uvovo said, “Cruise Tourism as we know today can be traced back to the beginning of 1960s coinciding with the decline of transoceanic ship travel and introduction of the first nonstop air travel between USA and Europe.

“This is according to its history. However for PNG, Cruise Tourism is an essential part of our tourism program where visitors from all over the World can come to PNG and cruise around on our beautiful islands and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, including our blue seas, the lagoons, river-ways, reef and many other beautiful sites we have across our islands.”

The PNGTPA CEO said, “We all know

that our country is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and the environment itself is a paradise on earth. We haven’t realized how beautiful our country is. From the Highlands to the coastal areas, we are richly blessed and at TPA, we want to showcase all these beautiful places to the world and Cruise Tourism will certainly play its part in making sure PNG is marketed and we bring in more tourists into our country.”

“Cruise Tourism involves an allinclusive holiday on a cruise with a set and specific itinerary in which the cruise ship calls at several ports or cities and I tell you, our beautiful breath-taking islands and its seas inclusive of their natural and yet beautiful white sandy beaches, coral reefs, river-ways, best diving spots, and many more are offered here in our country and that is where many tourists around the World will love to see and experience first-hand, this is

what PNG can offer in terms of Cruise Tourism,” the PNGTPA CEO added.

Mr. Uvovo said PNG with its diverse culture and landscape, is imperative that we bring back Tourism Cruise after it was stopped for over two years since the onset of the global pandemic in 2019.

The CEO said, our coastal villages are accessible through air and sea, and bringing back Cruise Tourism will enable the visitors to see our waters, seas and what it has to offer. We can attest to this simply by looking at the increase in cruise itineraries since 2009 when PNGTPA launched its Cruise Development Strategy. This strategy provided the pathway to strategically positioning PNG as an ideal cruise destination in the region whilst identifying the key infrastructure investments that were needed to meet the capacity of larger global cruise liners. Through strong partnerships with key stakeholders

such as PNG Ports, NMSA, Department of Transport, Immigration, Customs, and NAQIA, the long-term impacts of cruise tourism have been felt in island communities that play host to an array of cruise passenger vessels.”

“It (Cruise Tourism) is certainly a luxurious form of traveling involving an all-inclusive holiday on a cruise with a specific Itinerary in which Cruise Ship calls at several ports or cities and voyage around our beautiful islands at the same time enjoying the best time of the lives on the ship or boat while seeing these places,” he said.

Mr. Uvovo said, “This would not have been possible without the clearance from the controller’s office, other government agencies, and stakeholders who have been instrumental in the reopening of the Borders for commercial shipping in August this year.

“We thank you Controller David Manning and office as well as the Department of Health, PNG Ports, Department of Transport, NAQIA, Customs, Immigration, and NMSA for the efforts put in the reopening of the borders.”

“I would like to take this time to thank you all for taking the step forward for the good of this beautiful country and re-opening the borders. Thank you for your effort and perseverance,” CEO Uvovo said.

Mr. Uvovo thanked the international cruise liners and expedition ships that cruise PNG waters for their patience

during the border restrictions, stating, “it has been a period of uncertainty with the onset of the pandemic and after effects, however, it was imperative that we restart economic activity for our island and river-way communities and welcome back our tourist in a safe manner, ensuring that all local cruise communities and tour operators are well versed with the Niupela Pasin health and safety protocols. As such we look forward to welcoming back one of our big players in the region, Carnival Australia’s P&O Cruises, whose cruise ship Pacific Encounter berthed in Alotau on Friday the 7th of October, 2022, on its inaugural port call following the closure of borders since 2019.”

Meanwhile, Uvovo said Carnival

Australia has invested in a new multi-million state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Brisbane taking into consideration the proximity to PNG and the rest of the Pacific which will significantly increase cruise itineraries in the next five years.

Top

Above:

Left:

Main Image: Cultural dancers welcoming the cruise ship Pacific Jewel in Milne Bay

Right: (L-R) Deputy Controller National Pandemic Response Dr. Daoni Esorom, Minister for Tourism Arts & Culture Hon. Isi Henry Leonard, PNGTPA CEO Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo

Pacific Jewel cruise ship docked in Milne Bay

Tourists on board the Pacific Jewel Pictures: PNGTPA

PROMOTING PNG TOURISM AT THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

By Pamela Hoepel-Aupae

The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) is one of the proud sponsors of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and the PNG LNG Kumuls team, contesting at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in England.

Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, PNGTPA chief executive officer, announced the sponsorship as creating a new pathway in Sports Tourism, which explores a different angle of destination marketing and awareness through local and international sporting events.

The sponsored partnership with the PNGRFL offers PNGTPA an incredible opportunity to carry out promotion and awareness of Papua New Guinea as a travel destination at one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events in the United Kingdom (UK) – the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).

The UK is also an important travel source market for tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The PNGTPA is utilizing the opportunity at the RLWC to promote PNG as a travel destination worthy of its ‘A Million Different Journeys’ brand, all the while raising awareness that our country’s borders are now open, and that we are warmly welcoming travelers back into the country.

Two PNGTPA marketing officers and a cultural tourism ambassador join the PNG LNG Kumuls during the team’s community engagements and pregame entertainments throughout

Above: (From left to right) PNG TPA Cultural ambassador, Cedrick John and PNGTPA Marketing Offier for North America and Europe, Mr. Simon Pih at the Rugby League Wolrd Cup

Below: Cedrick John and Simon Pih posing with PNG Kumuls fullback Alex Johnston

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

the five-week long tournament in England.

Simon Pih, PNGTPA marketing officer Australia & New Zealand / RLWC lead; Pamela Hoepel-Aupae, PNGTPA marketing officer North America and Europe; and Cedrick John, cultural ambassador have completed several media engagements. The team were interviewed by the Warrington Worldwide media crew, The Guardian newspaper and local radio station where they spoke passionately about the country.

The PNGTPA team were similarly involved in public engagements at touristic sights and localities in England namely, Warrington, St. Helen, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Doncaster.

Warrington Market and the Two Brothers Café also invited the PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls team for PNG Coffee Tasting and live-stream on Saturday 22nd October, 2022. The Two Brother Coffee Shop will be selling PNG coffee throughout the RLWC and are happy to distribute destination marketing collaterals such as visitor maps, tourism product brochures, pamphlets and banners brought over by the PNGTPA team.

These and other events are opportunities presented to the PNGTPA by PNGRFL to participate together with PNG LNG Kumuls as side events. As part of its mandate, the PNGTPA proudly promotes all Papua New Guinea products and services, this includes Accommodation, Tours,

PNGTPA and the PNG Kumuls help to promote PNG as a tourist destiantion at the Rugby League World Cup in England.

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Travel & Leisure activities, Arts & Crafts, Food & Textile, Sports & MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events).

The highlight of the PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls community engagements was the school visits to Bradshaw Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School in Warrington.

The PNGTPA officers were given an opportunity to briefly share about travel and tourism in Papua New Guinea, while the cultural ambassador briefly demonstrated

the colorful Huli Mali dance of Hela Province.

The School Principals and teaching staff were thrilled about the extra surprise by the Huli Wigman, commenting that this will have a lasting impact on an individual child’s life. The school visit presented the PNGTPA with a different angle to introduce the destination to a younger generation of future travelers.

The PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls team will be visiting major cities

and towns for more destination marketing engagements at public squares, photo opportunities and most importantly engaging with the public, while sharing wonderful stories and travel information about destination Papua New Guinea, the land of ‘A Million Different Journeys’.

Accommodation Accreditation Scheme

The Accommodation Accreditation Scheme is initiated by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) to carry out promotion and marketing of accommodation services that are involved in tourism industry. The scheme promotes and helps raise the standards of accommodation facilities by setting specific minimum requirements and guidelines to enhance quality accommodation facilities which can meet the customer’s expectation.

Benefits of the Scheme

The main benefits of the scheme include:

• Inclusion of your accredited business in PNGTPA publication and brochures for visitors and travel trade;

• Marketing and promotion of your accredited business on PNGTPA online platforms - website and social media.

How to Join the Scheme

This is a voluntary scheme and you can join simply by contacting the PNGTPA for the accreditation criteria, filling out the agreement forms and scheduling an inspection.

For more information, email Ms. Mary Kanawi: policy@papuanewguinea.travel or call 320-0211

Below: PNGTPA Cultural Ambassador Cedrick John (Huli Wigman attire) posing with PNG Orchids players. Picture Credit: PNGTPA

DIGITAL JOURNEYS

Insights into how technology and digital content is helping to promote the tourism industry

By Pauline Riman

Is Our PNG Tourism Industry Ready for Digitalization?

There is no denying that the global travel and tourism industry has grown exponentially over the past two decades.

E-commerce and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) have been the biggest driving force of online travel bookings since 2018. Conversion to payments complete the final step of the sales funnel through online payment gateways, and the results of this successful process can be seen from the statistics of the Global Online Travel Market Report with OTA’s generating over 800 billion US dollars in global travel spend in 2021 .

The big names in our Papua New Guinea tourism industry like Air Niugini, the Coral Sea Hotels and Kumul IHG, as well as a handful of tour operators – are making it much easier for travel to and within Papua New Guinea with the incorporation of successful online booking and payment systems.

However, the biggest challenge for the industry is how to get SME tourism businesses to also use and benefit from e-commerce, as well as market and promote their products and services online – especially local accommodation providers and tour operators.

Continuous engagement with the industry has revealed to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority

(PNGTPA) the impediments facing tourism businesses and agencies. Many of the issues shared by the industry are rooted in inadequate utility services in their areas of operation, especially electrical and ICT infrastructure that stifle the digital progress of our tourism sector. This is obvious for tourism businesses and agencies who operate in rural locations, where many of our nation’s well-known tourism attractions are found.

Through the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026 (TSDP), the PNGTPA is committed to working with relevant government authorities and stakeholders to enhance and improve the tourism sector in Papua New Guinea. One of the key strategies of the TSDP is: “Positioning the Tourism Industry as one of the Strategic Drivers of PNG’s Sustainable Economic Growth, where the Government of PNG and the private sector invest in enabling infrastructure, utilities and security with safety to solidly ground tourism as the mainstay for PNG beyond

the minerals boom” .

The TSDP identifies seven (7) subsectors in our national Tourism Sector – two (2) of these subsectors directly reference the development of ICT infrastructure in Papua New Guinea to benefit our tourism industry. These two subsectors are the: Provider & Supplier Subsector and the Critical Enablers Subsector.

Key stakeholders the PNGTPA will be partnering with to implement projects focused on improving our tourism industry’s e-commerce and ICT experience are the Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT) and its support agency NICTA, as well as national and corporate financial institutions like the Bank of Papua New Guinea, BSP Limited, Kina Bank and others.

Digital transformation is high on the PNG Government’s agenda, and with the creation of the Digital Government Act (2022), spearheaded by the DICT and NICTA, the journey to improving ICT in Papua New Guinea has become somewhat smoother.

Albeit the focus of the Act predominantly serves the digital transformation of government agencies, the PNGTPA identifies provincial tourism offices, bureaus and authorities as beneficiaries of the Act, and therefore key agents in tourism product development, as a result supporting their digital transformation is a necessary measure.

Provincial tourism agencies require tourism product databases that will feed the planned national database

– of which the PNGTPA will have access to better serve and guide its mandate of marketing and promoting PNG as a desirable travel destination.

Digitalization of tourism in PNG is a necessary state the PNGTPA is striving to achieve for the industry it serves and can only be realized through a holistic approach. The digitalization process has already begun in PNG, although extremely limited to the bigger players in the tourism sector, the PNGTPA is forging a way forward to strengthen and enable the nation’s tourism subsectors, especially local tourism SME’s and provincial tourism offices. The PNG tourism industry is ready for digitalization, but it needs a coordinated effort led by the PNGTPA and its partners to be fully realized.

should be a reflection of our incredible tourism experiences and the resilient tourism industry that sustains it,” said PNGTPA CEO Eric Mossman Uvovo.

The website content refresher project will be an extensive exercise, and is likely to be completed early next year in 2023.

The Tourism Promotion Authority will be working closely with the PNG tourism industry, stakeholders and partner agencies to update the website with fresh and exciting content.

Once the refreshed website is officially launched next year, the digital marketing team will be developing a strategy to maintain the quality and freshness of travel and tourism content on the website.

The strategy will involve improving internal processes of data and content collection within the PNGTPA organization, as well as consultation, awareness and training workshops with the tourism industry – especially provincial tourism offices and industry associations. Having a strategy and an implementation process in place will be key to the success of the website content refresher project.

The PNGTPA also aims to work closely with local content creators in the website content refresher project, especially photographers, videographers and content writers.

destination Papua New Guinea and the brand ‘A Million Different Journeys’ –amassing tens of thousands of online followers via its social media channels and steering hundreds of thousands of users to its website each year.

In early 2022, there were over five-billion online users recorded – 4.7 billion of which were social media users, which is over half of the world’s total population . Therefore, having an online presence is vital for destination marketing, and as the national tourism office, the PNGTPA is committed to ensuring its online platforms – its website especially, is able to inspire, dream, book and guide travelers about destination Papua New Guinea.

The PNGTPA commissioned the current website in 2018 with the support of website developers – MMGY Global, and before that was the New Zealand based website developers ReserveGroup Limited.

Website Content Refresher Project

Papua New Guinea’s number one travel information website: www.papuanewguinea.travel is undergoing a content refresher this year.

The website revamp includes: attractions listings, interactive maps, increased business listings for tour operators and accommodations, as well as more information on how to start a tourism business and tourism investment opportunities in PNG. “We want this website to reflect the best our country has to offer as a travel destination. This is not just the Tourism Promotion Authority’s website - it belongs to the people of Papua New Guinea, and

“Papua New Guinea has a lot of talented and amazing local content creators, and we would love to feature and promote their work through our website and other online platforms. As part of our efforts to encourage domestic tourism, we feel – who better to reflect our destination and tell our travel stories the best way possible, than our own people,” said PNGTPA director marketing Alice Kuaningi.

The PNGTPA digital marketing team comprises of three officers: senior internet marketing officer Douglas Keari; internet marketing officer – social media, Liebert Kirakar; and internet marketing officer – website, Pauline Riman. The digital marketing unit – under the PNGTPA marketing division, have been driving the website content refresher project since late 2022 and onwards into 2023.

The PNGTPA has been prolific online for the past nine (9) years, proudly promoting

Reach out to our Digital Marketing team at Tourism Promotion Authority

Email Ms. Pauline Riman marketing@papuanewguinea.travel

Above Image: Mr. Leibert Kirakar, the digital marketing officer for social media for the Tourism Promotion Authority Picture Credit: PNGTPA

Global Online Travel Market Report 2022-2027

ii Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026

RE-OPENS DOMESTIC TOURISM CHAMPION

The story of Dominic Tulo and his vision to transform PNG into a tourist destination for lcoals and foreigners.

By Majeleen Yanei

Many saw the recent spike in the COVID-19 pandemic as a drought for tourism opportunities. With travel restrictions imposed (prohibiting international flights), the flow-chart of tourism in the country had been greatly affected (no tourists’ visitation). These international travel restrictions have affected many tourism stakeholders; from the local tour guides to major tour companies and hotels who generate income from international tourists and visitors.

However, as severely disturbing the pandemic had been to the tourism industry, there were few people whom had taken bold and daring initiatives in creating opportunities in the middle of the pandemic. One such goal-oriented individual and local tour guide for tourists is Dominic Tulo.

Dominic Tulo, 41, from Namatanai, New Ireland province started his small tour guide business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Capitalizing on the global issue, ‘Tulo the Guide’ went after a specific target group of interest. And those were international expatriates who couldn’t travel overseas for holiday, due to the tight restrictions imposed on international

flights world-wide.

After graduating with a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, from the Divine Word University in 2002, Dominic pursued his passion as a tour guide which he developed over the years in the industry.

In 2008, he was working as the Tour supervisor for Taklam Lodge and Tours, and Kokopo Beach Bungalows in East New Britain Province. There he would travel 14-days around the country annually every August, leading tour groups of up to 18 people from different countries. He did that from 2016 till 2019, then came

the global pandemic which paused everything.

“When COVID-19 struck, coupled with lockdown and border closure. Papua New Guineans were eager to travel but couldn’t travel out of the country so, when we started advertising our local tours from Kokopo and Rabaul, we started getting good feedback”, Mr. Tulo said.

Dominic Tulo’s main target-market right now are domestic tourists. He believes that harnessing the domestic tourism market and investing resources on enabling infrastructures will pave the way for the return of the international tourist market when borders reopen. He feels that focusing resources on developing tourism products domestically is the way forward for Papua New Guinea.

“When I first left university, my first job was a tour guide for Trans Niugini Tours in Mt. Hagen. I moved on to other senior roles within the organization, but when opportunities presented for tour guiding, especially during events like the Mt. Hagen Show, I welcomed the opportunity with both hands.

“Over the years I have met friends and most importantly built long lasting relationships with them from all around

Photo source:

the world”.

“Even some famous people like Tovah Feldshuh, an actor in the Walking Dead Series that Dwayne Johnson acted in”.

“I also have stories of kind gestures showed by my clients to my family and I over the years, simply as an appreciation for me being their tour guide at some stage”.

When Tulo was working with the Kokopo Village Resort and Rabaul Discovery Tours, he would voluntarily provide tour guiding services to close friends whom he met along the course of his professional work experience.

In the meantime, he was starting to see more local tour companies starting-up going after domestic tourism market. This gave him a sense of satisfaction and joy seeing such growth reflecting that this was “healthy for domestic travelers whom are price conscious”.

With such an increase in local tour companies, it is inevitable competition will develop. But Dominic’s initial view is that tourism is an industry which cannot thrive on competition, but on people working together and complementing each other. Collaboration with other SMEs is important for local businesses to survive. He claimed that this provides a “harmonious working environment”, and that is what tourism is all about.

With international borders re-opening, it will take time for tourism to get back to normal. In the meantime, Tulo stressed

Above: Mr. Tulo (first from right with tourists at the Kulau Lodge Beach Resort

Left: Local tourists resting at Mt. Tavurvur

Right: Local tourists relaxing at Pangpang Paradise Island

Pictures: PNG Tour Guide Facebook Page

that “lots of resources and efforts must be invested” in developing local tourism infrastructures so domestic and international tourists can easily utilize.

Early this year Mr..Tulo received six (6) international tourists, he also has future bookings locked in from overseas tourists. But unlike domestic tourism, the ‘overseas’ tourism market is his second priority right now. For he would like to perfect his service delivery in the domestic market first, that will put him in a better position to receive international tourists.

The list of companies and organizations Dominic has worked with is long and varied, and includes: Trans Niugini Tours, Kokopo Village Resort, Rabaul Discovery Tours. Melanesian Tourists Services, Airlink, Air Niugini, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, and a couple of major hotels and tour companies in East New Britain.

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, Dominic had made two international trips regarding tourism capacity building. His first trip to China was for three weeks, this was a Chinese Government Funded Tourism Human Resources Program. He then attended a weeklong Sustainable Island Tourism Conference in Vanuatu inn December 2019.

Dominic is one of the few PNG Tour Guides registered with the World Federation of Tourists Guide Associations as a ‘National Tour Guide’ and ‘National Tour Guide Trainer’.

With 20 years of experience working in the tourism industry, Dominic Tulo has amassed a large wealth of experience

in tourism, as well as international recognition for his contributions in Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry.

It was not all easy sailing however, like any entrepreneurial ventures, Dominic was faced with many challenges. The most severe and challenging being the COVID-19 pandemic. But come what may, as encouraged by his cousin, Douglas Pidi, who owns Kokopo Village Resort, Dominic is now trying to use the blessings brought to him amidst the pandemic to build a successful tour guiding service.

The long-time serving guide has pretty much everything in the palm of his hands, with experience being his greatest asset. With a vast arsenal of long-lasting relationships forged through the kindness and professional courtesy of his tour guide services, Dominic aims to develop, improve and promote more domestic tourism activities – for it is his belief that properly developed tourism products and services will in turn help the experience of international travelers.

MADANG'S NEW INTER-ISLAND SEA-FERRY SERVICE

By Rex Lita

Melanesian Tourist Services (MTS) is renowned in the country for its brand, ‘Niugini Discovery Tours’. In the past, the expeditions included tours onboard luxury vessels, Kalibobo Spirit, Melanesian Discoverer, and Melanesian Explorer which catered to expeditionary live-aboard cruise experiences within Papua New Guinea and abroad.

Adding onto their prestige, the Melanesian Tourist Services (MTS) has announced its newly customized island-ferry boat – the Kalibobo Express which provides services from Madang Town to Karkar Island and other remote islands along the coast of the Momase Region. The new vessel is described as an important sea transport service provider and a means to open new areas for tourism within Madang and PNG.

The ferry will see affordable sea transfers between the islands of Karkar, Bagbag, as well as Manus Province, providing competitive fares to Wewak in the East Sepik province via Manam Island out from Madang. Traveling within Madang, Kalibobo Express will run on a weekly basis by its set schedules.

According to the Sales and Marketing Officer at MTS, Kristine Seko, the vessel will operate on a trip schedule between mainland Madang,

and Karkar and Bagbag Islands, with extensions to Manus and Wewak when there is a hike in demand for sea travel. Further destinations will be considered once the vessel is up and running and by monitoring the interest of the travelers and the public.

The people of Madang, Karkar and Bagbag Islands have expressed their excitement that at last, they can expect fast, safe, and reliable transport to and from their destinations.

Kalibobo Express will travel to Bagabag Island’s Christmas Bay twice a month for Madang residents and visitors, tourists, and business personnel as well as organized charters.

A recent charter has just been completed visiting islands from Wewak, including Wuvulu and Kaniet near Manus. Since starting, the vessel has made regular trips for special events including; Easter, Mother’s Day, and the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

The Kalibobo Express vessel – built for comfort and style, commenced services in June 2022, carrying up to 140 passengers with crew members. Since then, the ferry has been running successfully. Fares now cater for adults and children accompanied by a

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competitive baggage allowance of 30 kilos, with additional excess baggage and onboard freezer storage for perishable goods.

The 22-meter aluminum catamaran, was custom built in Pattaya, Thailand, under the guise of successful businessman late Sir Peter Barter. As the Managing Director of MTS, late Sir Barter, a long-time catalyst and front runner in PNG tourism has long offered, branded and locally renowned Discovery Cruises and Expeditions as part of MTS tour packages under the Madang Resort and Niugini Dive Adventures. However, the new Kalibobo Express brings a new focus to alternate PNG travel.

The double-story vessel is built with internal air-conditioned seating as well as outdoor and an internal VIP cabin for corporate clients.

MTS had seen a fleet of luxury vessels, and this features another success of MTS’s long tenure, nearing 50-years of hotelier, tourism, and hospitality in PNG.

The vessel aims to offer an alternate and reliable interisland sea ferry that is fast, safe, and comfortable compared to that of the past.

The story on how the inclusion of the Melanesian Tourist Services' new vessel, Kalibobo Express, is connecting island destinations for more tourism.

Main Image: Kalibibo Express leaving Pattaya, Thailand for Papua New Guinea.

Above Left: Behind the helm of the Kalibobo Express

Right: The deck of the Kalibobo Express Pictures: boatsonline.com.au

Kalibobo express speeding down the Madang coastline

Children on canoes engaging with tourists on the Kalibobo Express

Kalibobo Express docking on a beach in Kalibobo Pictures: Melanesian Tourist Services Ltd

During the launching ceremony, the vessel adorned members of the Madang business community, MTS clients, and proud staff of the Madang Resort to an introductory cruise around Madang’s picturesque harbor. The ferry, based at Madang Resort’s marina, will offer Madang business houses, government departments, and visiting tourists the regular interisland scheduled services to nearby islands and destinations off the Bismarck Sea.

For information such as trip schedules, tours and cost of travel, all these information will be put out on the website. The IT team has been working on get the website going and it is in its final stages so it will be launched in a very near future.

The team also stated that the website is in its final stages of being launched. The website will provide information such as; schedules, tours, and costs to be as low as K100 one way to Karkar Island.

The Kalibobo Express and the Niugini Discoverer have been the long-term ambitions of Late Sir Peter Barter. Now with the Kalibobo Express coming to pass, the Niugini Discoverer

will begin construction.

Apart from services to the nearby islands of Madang, the new high-speed ferry commenced its first service to Wewak on the 7th of June and to Manus on the 16th of June. Kalibobo Express will make your experience in Beautiful Madang a memorable one.

KAMIOKA'S CHALLENGES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

useless,” said Kamioka.

Taking into consideration the scale of business he had, Hideo Kamioka, General Manager of PNG Explorers International, shared his experiences on how he managed to navigate his way through tough times, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Waking up at 4 am to meet inbound flights, setting off for a day excursion at 8 am, sitting down for hundreds of e-mail correspondences, and anxiously waiting for the last guests to arrive at night before closing the office at 10 pm. That was the daily routine, day in and day out, for the past two decades.

“In March 2020, things turned out so cruel that countries had to shut down their borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. My life has drastically changed; no more waking up at odd hours, no tours, no e-mails, and no guests. Vehicles once proudly carried tourists and business executives around the town were rendered

He said the business lost 100% of its revenue yet, we had to pay rentals, electricity bills, wages, and telephone and internet bills. There were no budget subsidies or unemployment benefits given by the Papua New Guinean government. The Company was expected to face insolvency by the end of October given its financial projections.

“I was literally at the edge of the cliff overlooking the bottomless valley of death. It would have been much easier to give up everything at that time,” Mr. Kamioka.

In April 2020, Mr. Kamioka and his team sat down and discussed ideas to rescue the business. When it comes to Tourism, this is his proverbial ‘bread and butter’. Mr. Kamioka would always be confident about his decisions and how he wanted things to go, however, this time, he truly needed ideas to save his business.

The team finally came up with some

ideas which were later considered a very timely and wise decision by Mr. Kamioka.

The first step they embarked on was, to convert the gift shop into something – a shop they used to sell locally made PNG souvenirs; including wooden artifacts, roasted coffee, PNGmade chocolates, body balms, baskets, and T-shirts.

Mr. Kamioka said, although it was a tough decision to remove all the unique collections from the self, we had no choice but to convert it into a mini-mart. Venturing into the minimart business was not the only idea they came up with – Hideo and his team also ventured into the poultry business.

“We went into this business not knowing who would purchase the meat from us or whether we could produce good chickens. No feasibility study or market research, we just went for it. We solely relied on the fact that humans never stopped eating

The story on how Hideo Kamioka, General Manager of PNG Explorers International, braved the challenges COVID-19 brought onto his company and the tourism industry.

By Rex Lita

even during the global pandemic,” said Mr. Kamioka.

He added, “We were lucky enough to have a staff who is a livestock expert. In addition to that, we had an agreement to use perfectly suitable farmland for poultry production.”

While shifting into mini-mart and poultry businesses, the company’s mini-branch office in Goroka started producing hand-made face masks and uniquely designed dresses by working day and night cutting the materials and sewing them to meet the orders.

As time went by, the business’s financial situation slowly improved and the life expectancy of the business extended. Through entrepreneurial skills, hard work, and determination, the team and the business managed to survive until 2022 (much longer than the initial projection).

gradually bring back artifacts and PNG-made gifts to meet the needs of international visitors. As for the poultry project, they now supply chicken meat to restaurants, food bars, diplomatic missions, events, parties, and individual customers. They cannot wait for international guests to try their organically raised chicken meat.

Mr. Kamioka claims that they would never have achieved their mission to survive the pandemic era by all means if it weren’t for the business’s partners and loyal customers’ endless support.

“Equally, I am so proud of our team, including family members for the resilience, improvised ideas, endless challenges, and great patience we showed throughout these tough times,” Kamioka said.

Austria, Switzerland, and France in August and September.

Mr. Kamioka is keen and hopeful that everything will return to how it used to be before.

Main Image: Hideo Kamioka and wife (second and third from right) with employees from PNG Explorers International

Top: Tourists at Mt. Wilhem

Left: Raggiana Bird of Paradise

Middle: Varirata National Park lookout

Now that the borders have finally opened, the team plans to

The business had welcomed its first international holidaymakers in early July – a birdwatcher group from the UK. Some flocked in from Germany,

Right: Cultural dancers at the Maprik Mini Show in East Sepik

PNG Explorers International is Inbound Tour Operator providing reliable & affordable tour services throughout Papua New Guinea. The company focuses on B-to-B business platform, have been offering Scheduled Tours, Tailormade Itineraries, Hotel, Transfers, and Tours to Tour Operators/Travel Agencies around the world for the last 20 years. Photo credit: PNG Explorers International

Pictures: PNG Explorers International

GRAB EVERY PASSING OPPORTUNITY

By Majeleen Yanei

Here is a story of a Papua New Guinea woman who was creative enough to grab an opportunity that passed her way to save her small business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The owner of inbound tour operator PNG Highlands Adventure, Jenny Wal Gonapa, 45, from Chimbu Province, specializes in Trekking and Cultural Festival Tours in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

Jenny provides guides for tourists and other international visitors who wish to tour the Highlands region, but when COVID-19 hit the country in late 2019, all international borders were closed, and tourists stopped coming –this directly affected her business.

Her business began to decline and Jenny had to find a way to save her business because the situation did not get any better in the ensuing months. Luckily for her, she had gained experience and insight from attending tourism events and meetings.

Like most owners and managers of tourism businesses, Jenny would attend and participate in International Trade Fairs overseas to help promote her business and sell her tours. The PNGTPA would often sponsor 50% of her international travels to attend these valuable travel and trade meetings and events.

One of the most difficult things Jenny had to do was lay-off some of her employees to minimize her business expenditure so that she could remain in business. Second of all, she ventured into selling

export handicrafts like natural fiber PNG Bilums and hand-woven cane baskets. I exported these handicrafts to the Australian Market to sustain my business during the pandemic. We have sustained ourselves by adapting to this new activity instead of sitting back and waiting for the pandemic to stop,” Gonapa said.

“My handicraft exporting business is rewarding, but the problem is the freight cost. I cannot sustain myself in this market because overseas buyers also want to make a profit and when the freight cost is half the profit margin, it becomes a problem to us exporters.”

Gonapa’s business has also benefited from the Pacific Trade Investment, Freight Subsidy from the Australia and New Zealand Governments, which covers 50 percent of freight cost. Thus, helping her buy and export more PNG handicrafts.

Now that the international borders have reopened, PNG Highlands Adventure has returned to its normal operations and is anticipating more tourists to visit the Highlands region of the country.

Gonapa hopes that in the future, Papua New Guinea banks and financial institutions will develop policies to assist local tourism businesses in times of global and national disaster.

Since the borders reopening, Jenny has had numerous enquiries about

The story of how Mrs. Jenny Wal Gonapa, owner of PNG Highlands Adventure, is helping to promote our local arts and crafts.

SIWAI SETTING THE PACE FOR TOURISM IN BOUGAINVILLE

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the South Bougainville Siwai Toursim Association is using toursim to rebuild Bougainville.

By Joel Keimelo

Introducing Siwai Tourism Association, based in South Bougainville and proudly led by people of the local communities – who are also tourism product owners. The association was formed back in 2010 and incorporated in 2019. The main focus of the association is to enhance local tourism products, and promote healthy community living.

The association is made up of a 100 members representing the four districts of South Bougainville – these are Buin, Torokina, Siwai, and Bana. The people of Siwai have a strong connection to their land and envision a future focused on tourism initiatives that can enhance their lifestyles and sustain future generations of Siwai people.

In 2019, the Siwai Tourism Association (STA) partnered with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) to develop programs and activities that can empower its members.

The STA workshops and trainings, hosted in partnership with the PNGTPA, were implemented over the past three years in two stages of capacity development:

1st Stage

• To know the basic marketing tools in tourism business

• To know the basic customer service skills

• To know how to develop a product and have it market ready

• To build capacity for the members of Siwai Tourism Association.

2nd Stage

• Identifying a tourism Product

• Basics to starting a Tourism Business

• How to Market your tourism product

• Creating Tour Packages

• Celebrating your culture and traditions – SIWAI CULTURAL SHOW

• Inspection of Product Sites and consultation with product owners

These are the needs identified through their 4 sectors of the association:

1. Accommodation sector

2. Entertainment sector

3. Culture Sector

4. Flora and Fauna Sector

Siwai Tourism Association members have since been able to increase their knowledge and understanding of tourism and how they can improve their products in close partnership with the PNGTPA.

One of the biggest cultural shows in Siwai is called the, “Siwai Culture Show” – hosted in Panakei, Siwai, South Bougainville. This event has been able to bring all its members together offering a platform to showcase and celebrate their cultures, traditions and traditional craftsmanship. The show was first hosted in 2021, and was viewed as a great success.

The Siwai Culture Show is supported by the Association’s patron, Hon. Timothy Maisu, Member for South Bougainville and government stakeholders like the PNGTPA.

The members of the Siwai Tourism Association are confident and feel well equipped with the tourism knowledge they have received, and are now planning to create more business opportunities to

help enhance their products.

The Association is led by Mr. Peter Siunai and Mr. Bernard Porike – who are active members of the association. Mr. Lucas Kawage, owner of the tour company PNG Footprints also supports the Association with public relations support. Mr. Kawage’s role is to help guide the association in making the right decision as they expand and grow.

With the international borders opening, the country is expecting more international visitors in 2023. Bougainville is certainly a gem of a destination, and the Siwai Tourism Association are eager to tap into the stream of visitors who are likely to visit their beautiful destination. The Association is setting the pace in tourism with a bottom-up approach by building the capacity of locals and community first.

The challenge and invitation is now open for other Bougainvilleans in the North and Central areas to come together and embrace tourism in partnership with its resource owners and Government agencies such as the PNGTPA.

Main

Picture: Michael Runkel

Left: Secretary for Siwai Tourism Association, Mr. Peter Siunai

Top Right: Wreckage of a plane from WW2

Right: Woven baskets and bilums on display

Below: Traditional "singsing" groups of Bougainville Pictures: South Bougainville Tourism Association Facebook Page

Image: White Island, Bougainville

PNGTPA SHOWCASES PNG TOURISM AT DUBAI EXPO

The PNGTPA proudly promoted PNG as an ideal travel destination at the Expo 2020 Dubai

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

The World Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates delivered a successful Travel & Connectivity week, 9th – 15th January 2022.

The purpose of the Expo 2020 thematic week was to create international dialogue on addressing the interrelated global challenges of Travel and Connectivity.

As a participating country at the Expo 2020, Papua New Guinea - through the PNG Expo Team, hosted a series of virtual events during the Travel & Connectivity week aimed at promoting investment opportunities for tourism in the country. These events included a virtual information session for the PNG tourism industry, an investment forum involving a number of tourism businesses and agencies in Papua New Guinea, including online access to the Expo 2020’s major Travel & Connectivity forum.

Ms Alice Kuaningi, the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Director of Marketing, facilitated the Tourism Industry Information Session and the PNG Investment Forum – Ecotourism

& Connectivity held at the Expo 2020 during the mid-January thematic week.

“Papua New Guinea’s exposure as a travel destination at the Expo 2020 has attracted a lot of interest in the Arab and Middle East tourism market. I have met many individuals from this part of the world who appreciate the niche tourism products that our destination offers, we are certainly on the radar of travellers seeking places to visit

that don’t have mass tourism, and this is understandable considering the global pandemic we are facing,” said Ms Kuaningi after the culmination of the Expo 2020 Travel & Connectivity week.

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is one of several key government agencies that make up the PNG Expo Team representing the country of Papua New Guinea at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Main Image: PNGTPA Staff at the PNG pavilion

Inset: The Papua New Guinea pavilion at the Wolrd Expo 2020 in Dubai

Picture credits: PNGTPA

PNGTPA PARTNERS WITH ACROSS BORDERS TRAVEL

PNGTPA signs a memorandum of understanding with Dubai-based marketing agency Across Borders Travel, to promote PNG tourism in the Gulf and Middle East

By Eric Kone

On Tuesday 1st March 2022, the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), signed a memorandum of understanding with a Dubai-based marketing and representation company to promote and market Papua New Guinea's tourism industry in the Gulf and Middle East regions.

Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture Isi Henry Leonard and the chief executive officer of Across Borders Travel, Fabian Fernandes, signed the MoU at the Staybridge Suites in Internet City, Dubai. The signing was witnessed by PNGTPA chief executive officer, Eric Mossman Uvovo, and TPA director marketing, Alice Kuaningi.

Minister Leonard said Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry has never penetrated the tourism market in the Middle East and that the MoU was a breakthrough, and hopes that a market from the Gulf region can be secured.

He said PNG’s participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai would provide the leverage to effectively market PNG as a tourism destination in light of the opening of international borders.

Across Borders Travel looks after the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which

is a political and economic union of Arab states bordering the Gulf. GCC was established in 1981 and its members include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Established and registered in 2013, Across Borders Travel represents preferred sales agents for seven cruise and 11 destination management companies.

Under the MoU, Across Borders Travel will provide tourism and marketing advice to TPA, and support in providing information about travel and tourism, and any related information throughout the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and Arab region to TPA.

Image: (L-R) Mr. Fabian Fernandes - CEO Across Borders; Hon. Isi Leonard - Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture; and Mr. Eric Uvovo - CEO PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. Picture credits: PNGTPA

PNG NATIONAL DANCE TROUPE DEBUT IN DUBAI

A group of young and talented Papua New Guineans helped PNGTPA promote PNG and our cultural diversity at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.

By PNGTPA Staff Writers

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) after a vigorous process of organizing a dance competition, selecting the top-performing dance troupe, staging several rehearsals and preparing the group, is all set to send off the PNG National Dance Troupe to Dubai this week. With the support of the National Cultural Commission and UPNGs Creative Dance School and planning and preparatory work have now reached its final stage.

PNGTPA is a proud sponsor of young talented and gifted Papua New Guineans. Half of the group is made of Creative Arts and Dance students from the University of Papua New Guinea. Others are also professional creative individuals who have much experience in the dance and music industry. The expertise of Choreographers Mr. Steven Pagasa,

Mr. David Taim of National Cultural Commission and Ms. Meriba Igara have prepared the PNG National Dance Troupe well.

The National Dance Troupe will perform various contemporary genres or dances. The theme for the Papua New Guinea Pavilion is “Living in Balance with Nature”.

The PNG TPA representatives in Dubai have also prepared the program for the visiting Dance performers and secured enough spots and venues at

Main Image: The PNG National Dance troupe arriving in Dubai

Below: The PNG National Dance Troupe at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

the Dubai World Expo for the group to perform.

The main event the group will perform at is the National Day for PNG which is set for 28th February 2022. The other performances will be at the Earth State, Australian Pavilion, Morocco Pavilion and Angola Pavilion. The group will be in Dubai from 18th –28th February.

PNGTPA sees the need to encourage our young people to develop professionally, embrace our origin, our culture, our heritage through songs and dances. The creative industry and entertainment industry involves professionals and taking this career path to develop professionally is not a

mistake.

Mr. Eric Uvovo, CEO of the PNGTPA said “Dubai World Expo is an International Event, we have planned to participate at and committed to supporting by sponsoring PNG National Dance Troupe. Giving such exposure to our youths and students gives them confidence, learn from others and gets them motivated to develop our creative dance and music industry. I wish them well and I know they will be great Ambassadors for Papua New Guinea. “

Mr. Uvovo added, “We are also thankful to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for the sponsorship of 12 performers.”

{From Left to Right}

Left: PNG National Dance Troupe member in Huli Wigman attire

Top Right: A student dancing in his traditional Madang dressing

Bottom Right: A student dancing in his traditional Kairuku attire in Dubai

Picture Credits: PNGTPA

STUDENT'S OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

By Majeleen Yanei

The Creative Arts Students of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) were part of the PNG Performing Arts Troupe sponsored by the Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) at the Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was the first ever World Expo hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region from October 2021 to March 2022. The Expo 2020 Dubai was a six-month celebration of innovation, culture, and creativity, and Papua New Guinea was proud to be a representative country at the exposition in the UAE.

The Performing Arts Troupe who represented Papua New Guinea at the Expo was also accompanied by one of PNG’s most popular reggae artists Anslom Nakikus, as well as cultural tourism ambassador Huli wigman Mr. Cedrick John.

The trip to Dubai was the first of its kind for the students, and it was both a mesmerizing and thrilling experience to perform in front of thousands of foreign spectators as opposed to their usual inschool performances. All the performers were honored and privileged to represent PNG at such a prestigious event as the country’s cultural ambassadors.

Final year Creative Arts student and stage manager of the troupe, Mr. Eugene Avadebia said, “I’m really thankful and honored that we got the chance to put PNG on the world map. Many who visited

our Papua New Guinea pavilion didn’t really know where PNG was and we were always excited to show them. As cultural ambassadors, we made a huge impact by putting PNG in the world spotlight while at the Expo, especially through our performances and cultural dress.”

“While we were performing on stage everyone was “wowed”! For most it was our traditional bilas (costumes) that grabbed their attention. Prior to each performance, we would rehearse moving from the pavilion towards the performance arena, and we would draw so much attention from crowds who were curious to know more about us, our traditional costumes and most of all about our country – they also wanted to take a lot of pictures and videos,” Avadebia recalled.

During each of the six performances at the various stages throughout the Expo the crowd seemed to double, the music and performances were so lively – Expo goers could not help but be drawn to the entertainment. People were always curious, and when the performances ended, everyone had Papua New Guinea’s name on their lips.

As the stage manager, taking lead in preparing dancers for every performance, Eugene said, “It was a great experience being up on the international stage. Normally I have been taking part in departmental productions at the

University of Papua New Guinea, but this was an opportunity of a lifetime to go out there and unleash my true talents.”

“It was a lot of hard work, but one thing I have learned is that there’s no thought about PNG timing, they were very time-oriented – I learned a lot from this. Everything went smoothly with the help of other international production crews, and I am so privileged to have worked with them for the two weeks.”

Nurturing the talents and creativity of young Papua New Guineans lie at their heart of the UPNG Creative Arts Strand who are hopeful the Government of PNG can consider their students again for the next 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan

Creative Arts Students of the University of Papua New Guinea, who represented PNG as cultual ambassadors at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, share their experince.

Image: Creative Arts students from the University of Papua New Guinea at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai

Picture Credit: PNGTPA

CREATIVE ARTS LECTURER SHARES DUBAI EXPERIENCE

By Max Oraka

Papua New Guinea’s presence at the Expo 2020 Dubai was a lifetime opportunity for many Papua New Guineans involved in the six-month long event – from the Papua New Guinea pavilion staff made up of government agency representatives, to the performance dance troupe that graced the Expo with their presence for two-weeks.

Thousands of Expo-goers visited the Papua New Guinea pavilion, but it was during the period of the Troupe performances that the country’s pavilion numbers tripled in February 2022.

Director of the PNG Performing Arts Troupe, Mr. Steven Pagasa, who is also a Creative Arts Lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, said his experience at the Expo 2020 Dubai is one that he will never forget.

Mr. Pagasa, as he was respectfully called by the Troupe at the Expo, was instrumental in leading, organizing, choreographing and directing the performers during the stage performances, as well as ensuring all issues were brought to the attention of the Troup’s main sponsor – the Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA).

The Troupe performed admirably during the Expo – performing under the theme: Connecting Minds and Creating the World. The PNGTPA were proud of the group’s success in Dubai which although fraught with challenges, still turned out to be a success. PNGTPA director marketing Ms. Alice Kuaningi said that having such a passionate and energetic group of performers who spoke so zealously about their country while in Dubai was such a worthwhile

investment.

The PNG Performing Arts Troupe performances was an innovative showcase capturing the contemporary music scene of PNG, as well as singsings and bilas (traditional songs, dances and costumes) from the four regions of Papua New Guinea, i.e., Southern, Momase, New Guinea Islands, and the Highlands.

“Wherever we went at the Expo, we had crowds following us. During our performances we drew crowds of spectators. For me, it was one of the most successful performances I have ever had the pleasure of leading overseas,” reminisced Mr. Pagasa.

When asked about his view on how one can be a cultural tourism ambassador for the PNGTPA, Mr. Pagasa said the PNGTPA is always seeking “a group or individual that is market ready” – meaning that they demonstrate outstanding creativity, passion and knowledge about

tourism in PNG.

“UPNG is always supportive of the PNGTPA, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity they have given me and my students. Even after the Expo, PNGTPA calls me up now and then for support with their events, where they ask if there are Creative Arts students available who would like to perform,” said Mr. Pagasa.

The journey to Dubai for the performance troupe was a long process, which began with an interpretive dance audition conducted in Port Moresby and broadcast live through the PNGTPA Facebook page. Winning teams: UPNG Creative Arts Group, and the Bilas Group were selected to go to Dubai. The group’s expenses were met by the Government of Papua New Guinea through the PNGTPA, and the Government of the United Arab Emirates. The Performance Troupe was also made up of PNG reggae artist sensation Anlsom and PNGTPA’s cultural tourism ambassador Huli wigman Cedrick John.

Picture

Creative Arts Lecturer at the Univeristy of Papua New Guinea and Director of the PNG Performing Arts Troupe, Mr. Steven Pagasa shares his experience at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Image: Director of the PNG Performing Arts Troupe and Creative Arts Lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Steven Pagasa

Credit: Mr. Steven Pagasa LinkedIn

SWEET ACHIEVEMENTS FOR HELPING HAND HONEY PRODUCERS

The story of how local honey farmer, Mr. Kelly Inae, is helping to shape and develop the honey farming in Papua New Guinea.

By Majeleen Yanei

As a developing nation, Papua New Guinea relies on the agriculture sector for its socio-economic growth and development. With approximately 87 per-cent of the country’s total population living in rural areas - 85 percent per-cent depend on farming as their livelihood, growing cash crops like coffee, cocoa, vanilla – as well as live-stock farming.

Honey Farming, beekeeping or apiculture has been around for the past decade in Papua New Guinea, growing in prominence in the Highlands region. One success story of honeybee farming is that of Goroka’s famous ‘honey man’, a title given to the director and founder of Helping Hand Honey Production, Mr. Kelly Inae.

Helping Hand Honey Producers was established as part of a community development project in 2006 by Kelly, to support and encourage honeybee farming in the Highlands and mainlands of Papua New Guinea.

Kelly’s honey farm is a 10-minutes’ drive from Goroka town, along the Fimito-Kafana Road in the Eastern Highlands Province. The farm provides the perfect environment for bees to create their honey-making magic – a canopy of trees, floral gardens and a waterfall offer an abundance of nectar on the farm, and the site is also a scenic and beautiful

place for visitors to enjoy.

The first batch of honey from Kelly’s farm was produced in 2010, and from this batch he began selling to buyers from Goroka, Kundiawa, Port Moresby, and Alotau. Six years later Kelly developed his brand product ‘Mountain Honey’, which is sold throughout Papua New Guinea

The success of Kelly’s Helping Hand Honey Producers company and Mountain Honey product brand, lies in his training and downstream processing capability – where he buys honey off other farmers, processes the honey then packages and sells to his clients.

Helping Hand Honey Producers has diversified into an ecotourism and agritourism attraction, as Kelly’s property offers a healthy pristine habitat for honeybees to thrive, while supporting the practice and

training of beekeeping. Training in apiculture lies at the heart of Helping Hand Honey Production, because Kelly believes creating awareness and building capacity in others to know how to care for and appreciate bees is important to the environment – bees pollinate plants and are therefore vital to the survival of all living things.

Kelly’s Helping Hand Honey Producers is also one of the best examples of voluntourism in Papua New Guinea. A number of visitors have helped Kelly with his business administration, marketing and promotion, training – and in exchange he has offered them food and lodging. His main voluntourists are free and independent travelers (FITs) like backpackers.

In 2016, 32 international volunteers visited Kelly’s farm, where they helped him train local honeybee farmers, harvest, process and pack his honey. Most of these volunteers were backpackers from Europe, Asia, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand who had experience and knowledge about honeybee farming. In exchange for their volunteer work, Kelly provided local food and lodging throughout their stay with him.

Kelly is not restricted to voluntourists, and also welcomes

casual sightseeing visitors to his beautiful property. Visitors pay K10 per head for a tour, these fees also go towards his farming and training operations.

With assistance and support from government agencies, academic institutions and NGO’s, Helping Hand Honey Producers has trained over 3,000 beekeeping and honey farmers throughout the country. The training helped honeybee farmers develop important techniques about maintaining the quality of the honey during harvesting, processing, and packaging.

Kelly’s objective now is to increase the viability, profitability, and sustainability of small-scale honey bee farming in order to enhance rural livelihood, especially in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Helping Hand Honey Producers is now the second largest honey producer in the country, producing about nine tons of honey per annum. Apart from that, they also produce and supply beekeeping materials such as bee boxes, wax, and vests - upon which they provide a monitoring and evaluation program to ensure those who are buying these bee-keeping materials are producing honey to the highest quality.

Helping Hand Honey Producers has received awards from the UNSDG Achievement Awards Hong Kong Council and the SME Awards Papua New Guinea.

With this great love for bees and honey-making, Kelly dreams and hopes that one day all Papua New Guinean homes will have a honey box for bees. He wants to see men and bees living together harmoniously in a symbiotic relationship, where flowers and fruits are planted and protected so bees can thrive and pollinategiving us honey and a wholesome natural environment to enjoy.

Main Image: Mr. Kelly Inae holding a jar of Mountain Honey

First Page: Founder and Managing Director of Helping Hand Honey Producers, Mr. Kelly Inae

Top RIght: A hive of honey bees

Below: Mountain Honey jars at Highlander Hotel Pictures: Mountain Honey Facebook Page

AN ADDED TASTE TO PNG STAPLE FOOD

Find out how Chef Julz Henao is using local delicacies to put PNG on the world map for food tourists.

By Majeleen Yanei

Eating the right kind of foods, especially in the right amounts, is very crucial to good health. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the daily lives of people, especially eating habits. During the pandemic, many have found it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While no food or dietary supplement can prevent COVID-19 infections, maintaining a healthy diet is still important for keeping our immune system strong to fight diseases.

Papua New Guinea is the land of a thousand tribes, blessed with hundreds of traditional ways to prepare local food. Each province, district, village, community and tribe in PNG

have their own special way of preparing food – from a simple family dinner to a huge ceremonial feast.

Julz Henao, an amazingly talented local chef has worked very hard to help educate the people of PNG about healthy eating. He is currently working on the Eat Smart Campaign, a nutrition education program for Papua New Guineans incorporating locally grown food.

“The Eat Smart Campaign is the first of its kind in PNG. We’ve travelled to the regions and met some amazing farmers, and we’re going to be sharing nutritional education with the next generation of Papua New Guineans and school kids,” he said.

Chef Julz said he was inspired by each of the local cooks, and the way they incorporated new cooking methods into traditional dishes. Chef Julz places great emphasis on going back to the basics by Eating Healthy, Eating Smart, Eating Fresh!

With an aim of improving the diet of local Papua New Guineans who mainly rely on local produce, Australian trained Chef Julz Henao travels around the country to promote local food and vegetables. With the rate of malnutrition increasing during the pandemic, he came up with the idea to start the Eat Smart Campaign (ESC) to basically improve people’s nutritional intake through local organic produce.

Photos credit: Eat Smart Campaign

A Chef by profession, he was moved to build a career out of it that could better serve the people of his country. In an article sent to Quantum Media, he wrote “I enjoyed cooking at an early age, some of the best memories are from cooking and helping my mum and aunties bake that eventually inspired me to venture into this platform. After many years of international exposure, I am now back in my homeland to revive PNG’s relationship with food,”.

The Eat Smart Campaign was launched on the 16th of December, 2021 with the aim of promoting healthy and nutritional eating and creating behavioural changes concerning food across Papua New Guinea.

Chef Julz said that the ESC discovers the journey of food from farm to plate and aims to spark new conversations

on the importance of eating healthy food that are locally produced. This highlights the value and importance of the agriculture sector and the need to strengthen Agri-business supply

chains to source fresh local produce.

The health status of a nation is determined by the daily diet of its population. The Eat Smart Campaign program, supported by the PNG Australian partnership, was created and produced by Pidgin Productions. It is a movement to change the food landscape of the country.

Chef Julz Henao and Pidgin Productions are collaborating to showcase some of the fine treasures of Papua New Guinea in its agriculture and cultural diversity, from the blues of the ocean, to the lush greenery of the mountains.

The Eat Smart Campaign aims to proactively create demand for healthy, nutritious, quality, and safe food. Chef Julz takes Papua New Guinea on an extraordinary cookery journey, showcasing the farm to plate experience by introducing:

• Easy and smart cooking techniques

• Promoting healthy eating amongst children

Agriculture value chain and Celebrating local produce

The Eat Smart Campaign was born out of a motivation to revolutionise food in Papua New Guinea, by celebrating local produce and traditional techniques. This set the stage for Food Tourism, an unexplored niche in the country, poised with massive potential. The first season saw “Farm to Plate” stories from five provincesEast New Britain, West New Britain, Morobe, Central and the National Capital District. Each unique, each giving an authentic taste of PNG. From the rugged volcano of Rabaul to the waterfalls of Busamang to the sprawling plantations of Rigo, ESC cooked up a storm in the iconic outdoor locations, combining culture with cuisine.

The journey saw Chef Julz cook over a rustic fire, with the local community involved in the processfrom sourcing to cooking to tasting. Chef Julz says, “We are resetting our relationship with food, in general. By going local, we are making the art of cooking accessible and affordable to all Papua New Guineans. Produce like bananas, kaukaus, aibika, pumpkin, groundnuts have been our staple for generations. All we are doing now is making the same produce more exciting”.

With a multi-platform integrated approach, the campaign was launched as a TV cooking show, weekly newspaper coverage, radio talkback show, social media, and most importantly, school outreach programs. The campaign intends to create a positive story about locally sourced fresh produce, the farmers who make it possible and an all-new take on PNG cuisine.

Covid-19 came with its set of challenges, especially with logistics. Travel restrictions, changing protocols, safety of remote communities as well as the crew - all gained significance as the campaign geared towards produc-

Campaign saw this as an opportunity to help promote the sustainability of agriculture, food systems and local communities. The campaign ensured visibility for local destinations at a time when borders were closed, creating an impetus for domestic tourism. The overwhelming response to the content was a testament to the pride that every province takes in their “way of life”.

When each regions master the art cooking, food tourism can be developed well in PNG and tourists would travel to PNG just for an authentic culinary experience. Culinary tourism is currently trending predominately on the social platforms which has seen significant increase in travel to new destinations that are unheard of. Mumus and aigirs prepared traditionally at rustic village home-stays will show the past cooking techniques of our ancestors said the Chef, Henao.

From the highlands to the islands, tourists will get a taste of history, geography and culture. A bustling farmer market can be revamped as a tourist attraction, showcasing the fresh produce of the region. Guided

tastings and cooking at farms over open fires can open a window into the day-to-day lives of local communities.

Food Tourism, is an untapped industry that can bring economic benefits, preserving local tradition cooking methods and bring tourist far and wide who crave authentic culinary experiences. Chef Julz Henao is paving the way for the food industry and food tourism to be fully realised in Papua New Guinea.

Main Image: Chef Julz Henao cooking in Salamaua, Morobe Province

First Page : Coconut Tomato Seafood Stew Recipe by Chef Julz Henao

Top Right: Chef Julz Henao with the production crew

Bottom Right: Spiced and Honey Glazed rack of Pork Recipe by Chef Julz Henao Picture Credit eatsmartcampaign.com

Photo credit: PNG Explorers International

Visit eatsmartcampaign.com for more information

MOROBE SHOW

An article on how Papua New Guinea tourism is slowly picking up since the re-opening of internaional borders, and how national tourism events are helping its recovery.

By Pauline Riman

Papua New Guinea officially opened its borders to international visitors on the 1st July 2022, and visitor arrivals from January to August 2022 show that the country has received 37,537 visitors – 2,182 of these visitors were here on holiday.

Obtaining a tourist visa remains a challenge for bona fide tourists as the 60-day tourist visa on arrival is no longer available. The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) will be working closely with the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority to reinstate the tourist visa-on-arrival facility to encourage international travellers to visit Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, tour operators and agents must continue to comply with PNGICA requirements and apply online for their client’s tourist visas using the Immigration Authority’s website portal.

All COVID-19 travel restrictions have been lifted by the Government since 5th October 2022, the most

recent being the vaccine test entry requirement for travelers, and the wearing of masks inside airports.

PNGTPA is aware that COVID-19 has become endemic – meaning the world is learning to live with the disease. Therefore, through the Safe Traveller PNG awareness program, the PNGTPA continues to advocate for the health and safety of the members of PNG’s tourism industry and visitors in the country. Industry members volunteer to participate in

the program by undergoing training, and are then certified and promoted through the PNGTPA website as a Safe Traveller PNG business that is equipped to provide a safe and healthy environment for their guests and clients.

Since the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions across the country, tourism in the country is slowly being revitalized, especially with the return of iconic national events like the Hagen Show, Frangipani Festival, Goroka Show and the recent Morobe Show in Lae. These events have not only brought back international travellers to the country, but refocused a great deal of marketing and promotions towards PNG’s domestic market.

For Morobe Tourism in particular, especially the recent 59th Morobe Show, hundreds and thousands of people attended the two-day event hosted at the Lae Showgrounds. Papua New Guinean show-goers came from the Highlands region, as well

as from the Madang and Northern Provinces to attend, what is now becoming the nation’s biggest show with a strong focus on agritourism. Morobe Show is one of the most wellrun, self-sustaining events in Papua New Guinea, hosted by the Morobe Agricultural Society – a successful case study for all events and festivals in Papua New Guinea.

Despite the Morobe Show’s success, there are many challenges ahead for tourism in the Morobe Province. Developments of attractions and products in Lae and the wider and remote Morobe Province are key areas the PNGTPA wish to assist the province with. However, the issue of a functioning provincial tourism office is vital in the bridging this assistance at a national level for tourism development in Morobe. The PNGTPA will be revisiting an MOU signed

in 2018 by the Morobe Provincial Government and the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.

In March this year, PNGTPA visited the districts of Nawae and Finschaffen to meet tourism product owners and service providers. The team also carried out marketing awareness and delivered guest lectures to the students of the Poly Technical College in Lae.

PNGTPA continues to market and promote Morobe as a travel destination in Papua New Guinea through its website: www. papuanewguinea.travel, particularly events like the Morobe Show, accommodation providers in Lae, as well as local tour operators like Lae About Tours and Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions.

Morobe Attractions will be a significant part of PNGTPA’s online

marketing and promotions next year, working with the Morobe Provincial Government will be a vital and necessary step in showcasing the best of one of PNG’s most vibrant industrial hubs.

Main Image: Horese riders at the Morobe Show

Inset: Morobe Show logo

Above: Cultural dancing group at Morobe Show

Bottom Left: PNGTPA Staff Pauline Riman at the Morobe Show

Bottom Right: Equestrian Events Cowboys at the Morobe Show

Picture Credit PNGTPA:

MOROBE'S TOURISM POTENTIAL

By Joel Keimelo

In March 2022, I was part of a team from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) sent to visit the Nawae district of Morobe and Finschhafen on a fact-finding mission. The purpose of the trip was to witness a unique cultural show in Nawae organized by the former Member of Nawae, Kennedy Wenge and former Board Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA).

I visited a small village called Kwalansam in the Finschhafen district, there I first began a tourism scoping mission to determine the types of tourism products in the area. Upon arriving, the PNGTPA team and I were treated to an amazing experience as the whole community came to the beachfront of Kwalansam to welcome us and shower us with gifts as new visitors to their homeland.

Kwalansam, is a beautiful village

that has special historical ties to Australia. It was known as the first base for the Australian New Guinea Administration Unit (ANGAU) during World War Two, hence the birth of the famous “ANGAU” name. The village sits on old war relics of ANGAU and still maintains its well-structured foundation of its past infrastructures. With a population of 2,000 people, the locals are fervent Christian followers of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches.

Apart from religion, the area is known for its war relics and beautiful natural attractions. The village is home to the first Papua New Guinea flag bearer during the nation’s first Independence Day commemorations, Retired Sergeant Norm Saga, whom the team had the pleasure of meeting for a brief moment. From the historical place of Kwalansam, the team visited Gagidu station and its nearby small township areas.

A boat cruise inspection was then carried out in the nearby villages of Kasanga, Busega, Gauinlabu, the DCA landing spot and Butaweng. The team had a memorable island-hopping experience to Mautuwala island, Miniusega island, Kumbam island, Simbua Island and the smaller islands of Tami (situated approximately 15 to 20 km away from the mainland). These islands were facing a great deal of climate change challenges, which the team noted down and recorded.

As we arrived in Tami Island, a 30-minutes boat ride along the calm seas of the Bismarck, the people were very friendly and curious, wondering what these new visitors were doing on their island. After returning from Tami Island, my colleague Liebert Kirakar and I, conducted a community awareness session about tourism with the people of Kwalansam.

There is so much to offer in this beautiful district of Finschhafen,

A trip to collect data deep in the remote, yet beautiful, Nawaeb, Morobe Province.

The Nawaeb mini Cultural Show hosted by Hon. Kennedy Wenge Picture credit: PNGTPA

this is certainly a place that tourists should visit, especially the township of Gagidu, the warm hospitality of the Kwalansam people, the beautiful islands, the famous Butaweng waterfall, the historical places – like the first landing base for Lutheran Missionaries, the battle of Scarlet Beach between the Allied forces and the Japanese during the World War Two and not forgetting the famous bilums and carvings woven and crafted by the talented local people.

The next stop after Finschhafen was to Nawae district, and the main Nawae village. Nawae is a pleasant 40-minutes’ drive from Lae city. Upon our arrival, there were a lot of young people dressed up in their best traditional attires to celebrate their culture and proudly showcasing their way of life. It was a unique

cultural show witnessed by my team and I, because most of the dancers participating were children. The organizer of the show highlighted the need to keep Nawae culture and traditions alive by involving the young generations.

The following day, the team visited the local Polytechnic Colleges to speak to the tourism and hospitality students. The invitation came through their Head of Department, Mr. Peter Imbal, and I was honored to talk to the students about Tourism, as it was one way of encouraging our

with a key meeting with Mr. Deffol Jabbar, the tourism specialist for Morobe who is engaged with the Morobe Tourism Bureau and manages the entity on a volunteer basis. Deffol offers great insights into Morobe tourism and has a large network. He briefed my team and I about the 13 districts of Morobe, carefully discussing their tourism products, sharing insight on the local tourism industry, and future plans they had shared with him.

Our trip to Morobe helped us collect a lot of valuable data and information for the PNGTPA, we were also able to collect great content for Kwalansam, Gagidu and Nawae – in terms of photography and video content.

Tourism plans are underway for Morobe Tourism, however there are great challenges that slow down progress.

Provincial government and community driven efforts are what is needed to drive and develop tourism in Morobe.

PNGTPA will remain ready to assist the Morobe tourism industry market and promote its destination.

Above: PNGTPA staff being welcomed by local at Nawae

Top Left: The famous Wara Butaweng Waterfalls

Bottom left: Traditional dancers of Nawaeb

Picture credits: PNGTPA

SWEET FINSCHHAFEN

By Joel Keimelo

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority was invited by Hon. Rainbo Paita to witness the opening ceremony of Gagidu township from the 23rd –26th April 2022 and at the same time, coordinate tourism workshops for the people of Finschhafen.

Finschhafen district is one of 13 beautiful districts of the Morobe province, it is a district made famous in PNG pop culture through a song titled ‘Sweet Finschhafen’ sung by a Finschaffen group called Rex Band in the early 1990s.

When the invitation came to the PNGTPA to attend the ceremony in Finschhafen, the team of Mr. Joel Keimelo, Senior marketing officer, and Mr. Liebert Kirakar, Digital Marketing officer were sent to implement this project and prepare the arrival of CEO and the Government delegation invited to witness the grand opening of Gagidu township and its new

airstrip, police station, and other planned infrastructure by the member for Finschhafen, Hon. Rainbo Paita.

The trip took one full day, starting from Port Moresby. The two officers had an early morning flight out from Port Moresby to Lae, then were quickly transferred to Voco Point (the hub of Lae’s coastal sea transportation connecting Oro and Madang). The trip was a three hours boat ride along one of the most beautiful coastlines in Papua New Guinea – speeding past Bukaua, Wideru, Bua, Kasanga and then reaching their final destination: Kwalansam village, in the heart of Finschhafen district.

Upon arrival, the two delegates were welcomed and mesmerized by a local singsing group as if they were the first outsiders to arrive to bring them good fortune. The welcome received by the people of Kwalansam demonstrated the uniqueness, and

the raw beauty of its culture, people and place. When greeted, the two officers were welcomed by the elders with a traditional ritual.

The officers then advised the people of Kwalansam that their visit was from the invitation of the local member, Hon. Rainbo Paita to witness the opening of the Gagidu airstrip, the police station, the new local market, the ground breaking of the new hotel development and the announcement of the new hydro power project.

However, the PNGTPA team’s key focus as tourism officers, were to conduct a feasibility study on the potential of tourism in Finschhafen district and identify areas for developing tourism through partnership with the local district, the resource’s owners and the PNGTPA.

On the 25th of April, the day of the ceremony, there was a large

Discovering the majesty of Finschhafen in the Morobe Province as the locals open their doors to tourism.

delegation of Government officers who arrived to witness the special event for the people of Finschhafen. However, during the celebration the PNGTPA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, along with his two staff, Mr. Keimelo and Mr. Kirakar, were taken aside to visit some of best tourism sites that Finschhafen had to offer.

The famous “Wara Butaweng” as many locals call it, was the first site. The beautiful Butaweng waterfalls, just adjacent to the main highway road, is a 10-minutes’ drive from the town of Gagidu. The waterfall stretches out in cascading layers of four. Upon arriving and inspecting the waterfall, the CEO had a brief meeting with the landowners of the area. The people were very welcoming and expressed their desire to partner with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to develop their tourism site and products to benefit their community.

Other places visited were four local guesthouses – Oasis Guesthouse, Cosam Guesthouse, Buki Lodge and Six Fingers Fisika Eco Guest house. CEO Mr. Uvovo was welcomed and briefed of the other tourism attraction sites

in the area, such as Scarlet Beach, and the Polac site – the home of the first Lutheran Missionary that arrived in Finschhafen.

During the celebration at Gagidu station, the Hon. Rainbo Paita, Member for Finschhafen announced a 2-million-kina subsidy support towards PNG Air to encourage flights to his district and also for his people to visit other places out of their district.

Overall, the potential of tourism for Finschhaffen is gradually being realized – even by its own people, and with the opening of the district’s new infrastructures, tourism certainly has a place in Finschhafen.

The key message from PNGTPA CEO Mr. Uvovo was for the people of Finschhafen to embrace and work together to develop their existing Tourism products. He said it was time the district worked together to develop tourism, and have a goal for bringing in an influx of tourists through cruise ships, cultural events, natural attractions and many more tourism opportunities.

{From Top to Bottom)

Top: Mr. Uvovo with National Planning officer at Butaweng Waterfalls

Above: Landowners of the Butaweng Waterfalls

Below: Full Day PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Workshop

Bottom: Group photo after completion of workshop

Picture Credits: PNGTPA

PNGTPA members at Finschhafen

HUON BIRDING CAMP

A journey into the majestic Huon Peninsula of Morobe Province to discover a hidden gem for bird-watching enthusiasts.

By Max Oraka

With 462,840 square kilometers of land, Papua New Guinea (on its own from the island of New Guinea) is a nation with the largest landmass in the entire Pacific Region. Stretching from the chilly mountains down to the warm coastal beaches, most of which that are arguably uninhabited. With a rainforest that covers 28.2 million hectares, Papua New Guinea is a home to thousands of different species of flora and fauna (many are yet to be discovered).

The Huon Peninsula, extending from northeastern Papua New Guinea in the Morobe Province, is predominantly fond for such native wonders. As the peninsula receives 180-190 inches of rainfall annually, along its 55-mile-wide peninsula and terrain that rises to more than 4,000 meters. The Huon Peninsula remains densely forested creating a habitat for variety of birds and animals. And it is here where the renowned Huon Bird-Watching site is located, nestled peacefully in the Satop Village.

For many international tourists and

bird watching enthusiasts, the Huon Birding Camp provides the avenue that showcases some of the rarelyseen species of birds that are native to Papua New Guinea. The Huon Camp also serves another purpose of showcasing the scenic beauty of the rural village of Satop.

The combination of the Huon Peninsula’s natural and exotic collection of birds and wildlife has created a hub for tourists and bird watchers. And when they do visit, they are presented with the opportunity to relax with nature, at its untouched state. With the glimpses of some of the most captivating and unique species of birds that aren’t found anywhere else in Papua New Guinea/ world; such as the Emperor Bird of Paradise, Pesquet’s Parrot, Huon Astrapia, Wahne’s Parotia, Papuan Eagle and many more.

It takes a comfortable yet interesting journey to make your way into the rugged and stunning Huon Peninsula. It starts with a short flight from the Nadzap Airport to the bush airfield of the mountainous Kabwum and then proceeds with a short bumpy scenic

drive that will lead you into the simple yet purposely built camp (with safaristyle tents) in the heart of the Satop community.

The tents are in stylistic feature regardless of its remote aspects, as it provides much enough comfort for you. Adding on with a combo from friendly staffs, community and tourers that will guide you throughout your whole adventure.

The Huon Birding camp located at 1800m right in the heart of the birding site that was first built in 2019 by, Cheyne Benjamin. Benjamin is the current General manager and owner of the birding camp, who also happens to be the owner and manager of Walindi Resort in West New Britain (his family business).

His dream for creating the Huon Birding-Camp was to capture the attention of tourists who are in-love with bird-watching as well as providing good opportunities for the rural landowners and people of Satop.

It took few years of sweat and tears from Benjamin before completing the whole project. But as fond as the idea of

success, there were risks to be faced too. And one of those biggest challenges for him was transporting a 10ft container up the mountain. However, like every situation, there must be a solution to it, hence, the container was cut into halves and taken to the site which was then welded back together.

All in all, according to Benjamin, as per demonstrated by Huon Birding, niche tourism operations can bring much needed funds into remote communities where very few income opportunities exist. Guidance and entrance fees are paid to local people, while the rentals are paid to the clans that own the land. In order to spread the economic benefits equally, Huon Birding has set up a community project thrust fund account to support the local community and school. Furthermore, all the fruit, vegetables and dry goods are purchased locally making a significant positive impact on the local economy.

Benjamin further elaborated that, for the future and what lies ahead. Huon Birding Project hopes that the camp can would one day change into an environmental conservation area. So that many of these flora and fauna species can be kept safe.

Camp, also hopes to raise awareness and knowledge of some of the rarest bird’s species of this region. Indirectly, putting the site under radar for more studies and possible discoveries of new species of animals, birds’ species, and also plants.

First Page: The Huon Birding camp site

Above: The dense rainforests of the Huon Peninsula (From Left to Right)

Left Inset: The unique Huon Bowerbird Middle Inset: The famours Emperor Bird of Paradise

Right Inset: The Wahnes's Parotia known for their courtship "ballerina dance"

Right: The Pesquet's Parrot Pictures: Tim Laman (from huonbirding.com)

PAPUA 47 REASONS TO TRAVEL IN

NEW GUINEA

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Challenge yourself by trekking the famous 96 kilometre Kokoda Trail. Shor t treks are also available from Ower’s Corner to Ioribaiwa Village Visit the Kokoda Track Authorit y website for a list of licensed tour operators. 2

Snorkel, kayak or go scuba diving at Kimbe Bay with tours by Walindi Plantation Resor t. The region’s coral species. 3

In August and September every year, experience a spec tacular highlands festival, such as the Enga Show, Goroka Show or Hagen Show 4

Take the Twin Peaks challenge in Simbu and the Western Highlands. Climb the highest mountain in Oceania at 4,509 meters, Mount Wilhelm, then ta ckle Mount Giluwe at 4,367 meters. 5 New Ireland Province? Stay at the peaceful Rubio Plantation Retreat where nothing else matters but you and the ocean 6

Heat things up at Mount Tavurvur with a historic al volcano tour in Rabaul, Eas t New Britain. Eat a delicious fresh wild fowl egg boiled at the Matupit Hot Springs. 7

If you love the naturally wild and weirdly wonder ful, then you need to see the national bird – the Raggiana bird-of-paradise – in full display at the Varirata National Park. 8

Suppor t local ar tisans, and buy PNG-crafted produc ts hand-made with love at the POM Cit y Market s held every second Saturday and Sunday of the month at the National Museum & Ar t Galler y.

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The Sirunki Agro Farms in Enga Province provide the sweetest tasting ex perience ever for strawber ry and honey lovers. 10

Explore the founding of a nation at the Haus Independens museum in Downtown, Port Moresby 11

Ex perience the bes t of Kawas hospitali ty at the Uruna Bay Retreat, Pok pok Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville There are plenty of fun activities such as island hopping and water s kiing. 12

The pristine waters and dazzling beaches of the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain await. Book a homestay with the friendly DOY islanders

For thespians who love drama, see some of PNG’s best ac tors hit the stage at the Moresby Art s Theatre

If you are a didiman and didimeri at hear t, you will love the Morobe Show in November See the amazing rodeo -style events and browse various stalls showing of f some of the best crops in this par t of the region

There is nothing like seeing Por t Moresby’s Fairfax harbour at night on

Pay homage to a bygone era at Bitapaka War Memorial in East New Britain which holds timeless stories of be forgotten }

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For the most scenic road trips in the countr y, the Boluminski Highway in New Ireland Prov ince offer s you an experience like no other, including roadside at trac tions like t he amazing L araibina Eels and the Fissoa blue water hol e. 18

The legend of the Asaro people is well-known throughout the countr y. Meet the descendant s of these folklore legends at the Asaro Cultural Centre, A saro village in the Easter n Highland s Province. 19

Awawi Fall s is a mus t when you visit Sandaun (Wes t Sepik) Province. This popular well-kept swimming spot has a canopied waterfall that offer s a cool esc ape from the jungle heat. 20

Loc ated in the hear t of the nation’s c apital is Port Moresby Nature Park , one of the countr y’s leading recreation parks connecting people and nature through education and conservation.

21 Guineans were some of the

Agricultural Site in the Wes tern Highland s is an archeological UNESCO World Heritage-lis ted site. Drainage systems and farming implements were found at this site dating back 9,00 0 year s.

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If you’re the kind of per son who loves cool mountain walk s, warm and friendly conversations by the

Bett y’s Lodge at Mount Wilhelm, Simbu Province offer s great hospitalit y for cli mber s and casual visitor s.

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ur ban life w hen visiting the Koitaki Countr y Clu b. Tee off on the golf green, or go hor seback riding: there are a lot of thing s to do at Koitaki to while away the hours.

Beef connoisseur s visiting West New Britain should s top by the Numundo Beef aba ttoir along the New best loc al beef in the country

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It ’s time to pamper your self and take that boardwalk sunset

island esc ape of f Port Moresby – as a the facilities are top -notch

Port Moresby cit y slicker s c an

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Turtle conservation at Lis senung Island Resor t is an important feature of this private island paradise in New Ireland provinc e. Join the ef for t to protec t the future of hawksbill turtles in Papua New Guinea.

Ride an outrigger c anoe acros s the geographic al wonder of the Resort in the Oro (Northern) Province?

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Those who love ‘garden kaika will love the fresh food at the

Moresby to Mount Hag en t wice daily, here’s an opportunit y to reward your body with the bes t vegetables and fr uit s from Pa pua New Guinea’s ‘ food basket ’ – the Wester n Highland s.

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Papua New Guinea. The lur e- shy is likely to tes t any seasoned systems of the Gulf and Wes tern Province. For that onc e-in -a-lifetime

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Loc al tour operators L aeAbout Tour s offer a uni que mangrove ad vent ure along the L abu L ake in Morobe Province. This fun and educ ational tour allow s visitors to navigate the mangroves, trek through the bushes and meet the locals, while learning the c ultural values of the L abu people and their connection to the natural environment.

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Unwind with friend s at the Japanese S py Bar, Paradise New Wewak Hotel in t he Eas t Sepik Province. Enjoy the loc ally themed cock tails: Wasara Mai Tai, Dagua Breeze, Wia Magarita, Maprik Martini and more!

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A guided tour of the ancient Tawali Skull Caves is a must while staying at t he Tawali Leisure Dive Resor t on the Eas t Cape of Milne Bay Province o ur friendly loc al guide will share s tories of long ago, taking you on a fascinating discovery of bizarre burial rituals and a warmongering way of life t hat no long er exist s.

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Ex perience the magic of a night tour at the Walindi Plantation Resor t, Wes t New Britain

catch a glimpse of the rare, noc turnal and endemic Golden Masked O wl

FROM LEFT: Bitapaka War Memorial; Asaro Mud Men. Images: David Kirkland, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority

FROM LEFT: Bitapaka War Memorial; Asaro Mud Men Images: David Kirkland, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority

bungalow s, the bes t food in the New Guinea Islands region and offer s 38

bungalow s, the bes t food in the New Guinea Island s region and of fer s

As an architectural wonder blending the mod er n and traditional, the National Parliament House deserves a visit while you’re in the nation’s c apital. Well manic ured lawns, gardens, traditional sculptures and pond s are spread out over the ground s for you to explore. 39

38 A s an architec tural wonder blending the moder n and traditional, the National Parliament House deser ves a visit while you ’ re in the nation’s c apital Well manic ured lawns, gardens, traditional sc ulptures and pond s are spread out over the ground s for you to ex plore

A haven for the humble c uscus and all manner of bird life in Manus Province is Mend relin Island, part of the Pityiliu Island s. This is a wonder ful spot for picnics and appreciating nature. 40

39 A haven for the humble c usc us and all manner of bird life in Manus Province is Mendrelin Island, par t of the Pit yiliu Island s This is a wonder ful spot for picnic s and appreciating nature 40

Milne Bay ’s giant manta rays of Gonubalabala Island are

Milne Bay’s giant manta rays of Gonubalabala Island are

seasonal cleaning station for large marine life, go diving to get up close and personal with these giant wond er s of the deep as they rejuvenate in this natural underwater salon. 41

seasonal cleaning s tation for large marine life, go diving to get up close and per sonal with these giant wonder s of the deep as they rejuvenate in this natural under water salon

Spot the iridescent male Flame Bowerbird in the interior Highland s of southern Papua New Guinea. Book a tour with one of the best bird-watching tour guides in the countr y, Samuel Ke puknai and his team Kiunga Nature Tour s.

Spot the iridescent male Flame Bower bird in the interior Highland s of souther n Papua New Guinea Book a tour with one of the bes t bird -watching tour guides in the countr y, Samuel Kepuk nai and his team K iunga Nature Tour s.

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National Remembrance Day ever y July 23 is a special day of obser vance in Papua New Guinea honouring the men and women who served during the World War s and peacekeeping mis sions in the count ry and abroad. Join in the national commemorations at the Ela Bea ch Memorial Park , and key war memorials in Rabaul, Kalibobo, L ae and Alotau.

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National Remembrance Day ever y July 23 is a special day of obser vance in Papua New Guinea honouring the men and women who ser ved during the World War s and peacekeeping mis sions in the countr y and abroad Join in the national commemorations at the Ela Beach Memorial Park , and key war memorials in Rabaul, Kalibobo, L ae and Alotau 43

life. Enjoy endless swimming opportunities with the sea at your doorstep, shor t trek s in nearby jungles, meeting the friendly local Sepoe villag er s and sampling traditional Gulf dishes.

life Enjoy endles s swimming oppor tunities with the sea at your door s tep, shor t trek s in near by jungles, meeting the friendly loc al Sepoe villager s and sampling traditional Gulf dishes.

You’ve pro bably heard of the amazing and world-renowned scuba diving in Papua New Guinea. I t’s a technical ac tivit y that requires training, however, in Port Moresby, you can make your scuba diving dreams come true by t aking up diving cour ses that will bring you a s tep closer to discovering the magic of diving. Contac t PRO Dive PNG fo r scuba diving lessons.

You’ve probably heard of the amazing and world -renowned sc uba diving in Papua New Guinea It ’ s a technic al ac tivit y that requires training, however, in Por t Moresby, you c an make your sc uba diving dreams come tr ue by tak ing up diving cour ses that will bring you a s tep closer to discovering the magic of diving. Contac t PRO Dive PNG for sc uba diving les sons.

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Avid golfers will be impressed with the championship 18 -hole golf course at the Royal Por t Moresby Golf Club. Also available is a prac tice driving range plus a shor t game prac tice area for c hipping and putting. Visit the Por t Moresby Golf Club website for visitor entry fees.

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Avid golfer s will be impres sed with the championship 18 - hole golf cour se at the Royal Por t Moresby Golf Club Also available is a prac tice driving range plus a shor t game prac tice area for chipping and put ting. Visit the Por t Moresby Golf Club website for visitor entr y fees.

Imagine a beachf ront all to your self and glorious ocean sunset s ever y day. Sepoe Village Guest House in the Gulf Province offer s visitors a quaint escape from modern

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Imagine a beachfront all to your self and glorious ocean sunset s ever y day Sepoe Village Gues t House in the Gulf Province of fer s visitor s a quaint esc ape from moder n

Let loose at the L amana Gold Club, one of Pa pua New Guinea’s popular nightclubs in Port Moresby. Dance the nig ht away with your friends in the adjoining outdoor club or enjoy a cold one with the live band indoors Lamana is the place to par ty and boogie the night away.

Let loose at the L amana Gold Club, one of Papua New Guinea’s popular nightclubs in Por t Moresby Dance the night away with your friend s in the adjoining outdoor club or enjoy a cold one with the live band indoor s L amana is the place to par t y and boogie the night away

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National Orchid Gard ens at 14 -Mile on the o ut skir ts of Port Moresby a visual treat. T here are over 3,00 0 known s pecie s of orchids in Papua New Guinea, and you will be amazed at the variet y, colour and uses of these phenomenal plant s. T B

National Orchid Gardens at 14 - Mile on the out sk ir t s of Por t Moresby a visual treat There are over 3,0 0 0 k nown species of orchid s in Papua New Guinea, and you will be amazed at the variet y, colour and uses of these phenomenal plant s T B

Kawas - endearing term for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Kawas– endearing term forthe people ofthe Autonom ousRegion ofBougainville

Kawas– endearing term for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Didiman - male agricultural specialist or enthusiast

Didiman – male agriculturalspecialistorenthusiast

Didiman– male agricultural specialis t or enthusias t

Didimeri - female agricultural specialist or enthusiast Garden kaikai - fruits and vegetables grown locally

Didimeri– fem ale agriculturalspecialistorenthusiast

Garden kaikai– fruitsand vegetablesgrow n locally

Didimeri– female agricultural specialis t or enthusias t Garden kaikai – fruit s and vegetables grown locally

#VisitPN G info@ papuanew guinea.travel

#VisitPNG info@papuanewguinea.travel

We are a country loved so wholeheartedly by those who crave authenticity, playing home to over 800+ different languages and the most unique tribes in the world. An opportunity to experience one of the traditional cultural festivals is something that should be on every culture-seekers bucket list. The more adventurous traveller can even climb to the top of Oceania’s highest mountain, Mount Wilhelm: 4,509 meters, or trek world-famous Kokoda.

Children in the Papua New Guinea Highlands | Photo by Brook Sabin