The Sirinumu Dam catchment area in the Sogeri LLG of Central Province has a huge tourism potential which is unexploited.
Inara Moio, Sirinumu Eco-Tourism Cooperative chairman said the dam area magnificent beauty and climate is a “sleeping tourism giant”.
After three years of struggle to develop a product, it was the cooperative’s New Year blessing when Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang spent two nights on an island in the dam area.
On the December 31, the Minister took the media for a familiarisation visit and committed
K100,000 to help the budding local operators to purchase materials to complete their uncompleted accommodation and picnic houses.
Moio said the first consultation meeting organized by Kokoda Track Authority was done three years ago and had been a struggle since.
“I am happy to receive a state minister to visit the Sirinumu area because it is the first time, this is history in the making,” Moio said.
He added that the project aims to build lodges and also picnic huts on the islands inside the dam catchment area for paying visitors to enjoy.
Sirinumu area is about 90 minutes’ drive from Port Moresby.