The cost of doing business is the main setbacks to the development of the Tourism sector in Manus Province.
This includes the high cost of air fares and the lack of tourism infrastructure in the province.
Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru revealed this when officially opening a 3 days Seminar on Tourism in Manus Province recently.
Maru was invited by the Manus Provincial Government to officiate at this Tourism seminar for him to specifically speak on the impact of the closure of the Asylum Seekers Processing Centre on local SME’s and the unemployment rate that will be caused as a result of the closure of the center.
He thanked the Government and the people of Manus for inviting him to officiate at this first of its kind seminar on tourism.
“Manus province, being a beautiful island with its idyllic waters, unique cultures and friendly people will not go wrong when it comes to developing its tourism sector”, said Maru.
He said the province has the potential to develop tourism but the cost of doing business and lack of tourism facilities will always be the serious issues for the province to consider.
“Tourists would want to visit places that have the tourism infrastructures like hotels as well as the tourism products”, he said.
The Manus Provincial Government is currently taking steps to lay the foundation for the future growth and advancement of its tourism industry. Part of this move is the hosting of this 3 day tourism seminar which is aimed at bringing together all tourism operators and stakeholders in Manus Province to discuss a way forward for the tourism sector in the province.
The three days seminar which is organized by the Manus Provincial Government through its Division of Commerce & Industry starts on May 9th and ends on the 11th with the theme “Building Partnerships to Advance Tourism in Manus Province”.
Maru described the seminar as a very important one, as it will enable collective inputs from the Manus tourism industry operators, tourism products, resource owners and the Government of PNG to collectively chart a way forward for the industry in the Province.
He thanked the organizers of this seminar for initiating this seminar which will go a long way.
He urged the Manus Provincial Government and those in the tourism industry in Manus Province to work together to identify and develop potential tourism products that will help boost the tourism sector in the Province.
“When tourists visit Manus Province, these tourism products will become their motivation. We need to have a clear strategy on how to develop the tourism sector in Manus Province”, said Minister Maru.
Manus Provincial Government also introduced its new township of Nrahukei that will be developed to cater for the proposed Free Trade zone that will cover the catalytic program of fisheries, tourism and possibly businesses.
Meanwhile he further highlighted that Manus not only has the potential in developing the tourism sector but fisheries and the Agriculture sector, especially the rubber industry.