The Surfing Association of PNG (SAPNG) has plans to host more World Surf League events in the country.
In a first for PNG, the Men’s and Women’s Longboard World Championship Tour will take place in Madang in March.
But President of the SAPNG, Andrew Abel, says this is only the beginning.
“This is the beginning…the next one we’re planning for 2018 in Kavieng in New Ireland province and following that, it will probably be staged in Vanimo or even Bougainville.
“What we are essentially trying to do here is that, with the support of the national government, through the stewardship of the Tourism Promotion Authority, is to showcase the true spirit and culture of PNG in the rural areas where 85 percent of our population reside,” said Abel.
Abel added that the SAPNG will be heading to Bougainville in April of this year to hand over surfboards to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, with the view of rolling out the SAPNG’s plans and policies.
“This will be the groundwork to then stage, potentially in 2019 or 2020, the next World Surf League event in Bougainville.”