TOURISM is still in high demand in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville with more tourists willing to come.
But there are some things that are needed to be in place to make the industry grow and prosper in order to contribute to the regions development.
The introduction of direct flights from the nearby Solomon Islands into Aropa airport is one, and the re-introduction of insurance companies to come back into the region. Right now tourist’s assets like cars and boats cannot be insured on Bougainville but has to be done from outside.
Local Tour Operator Bougainville Experience Tours (BET) Managing Director Zhon Bosco Miriona told a PNG/Australia Business Council conference in Buka yesterday, Bougainville is slowly and gradually becoming a tourism hub.
“We have birdwatchers coming in backpackers, surfers and even explorer’s, tourist ships coming in every year that is a clear cut evidence that tourism is still on high demand here in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville,” Miriona said.
“We have huge potential here on Bougainville we have the world’s second largest cave here on the west coast of Bougainville, we have the Numa war track used by Americans during World War Two, we have two active volcanoes Mount Balbi and Mount Bagana, some of the best sunsets and sunrise can also be found here on Bougainville,” he said.
PIcture: Sunrise over Kieta harbour. Picture courtesy of Cathy Benny.