Chimbu Province has missed out on millions of kina in inbound international tourism for years.
The people of this rugged, limestone riddled with steep gorges and ravines and their provincial governments over the years never benefited from any tourism income.
The rugged and perilous features of the province however provides some of the most scenic views in the country. It hosts Mt Wilhelm, the highest landmark and a tourism icons in the South Pacific. The drive itself from Kundiawa to Kegasugl at the foot of Mt Wilhelm, named by German explorers in honour of their Emperor Fredrick Wilhelm, is a million kina experience.
The fast flowing cold crystal clear creeks crushing through at the bottom of ravines, food gardens on sloppy mountainsides, the mountains, ridges and ravines are breathtaking to say the least.
The people who are so actively traditional with their colourful cultures, are products Chimbu is abundant with since the first man settled there but up to now, never benefited from tourism.
Annually, a large number of visitors from across the globe go into Chimbu and climb the mountain. They come through tour operators based outside of the host province. The Province itself has no idea how many visitors come and go.
Hotels and guest houses in the province miss out on the extra revenues. These visitors do not transit from Kundiawa. They come and go directly to Kegasugl from the Highlander hotel in Mt Hagen or Bird of Paradise in Goroka.
Tour operators and hotels outside of Chimbu reap from the iconic product in this rugged yet beautiful place.
There is no benefit for the people of Chimbu for hosting the multi-million dollar tourism mega, Mt Wilhelm.
This could now become a thing of the past with the launching of the Provincial Culture and Tourism Authority last week. The launching also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Provincial Government and Culture Tourism and Arts Authority.
The Provincial Government and national body agreed to work and develop the industry in the province to generate revenue whilst giving business opportunities to the people within Simbu.
After being dormant for years, the launching and MoU signing marks a new era for the province’s tourism sector.
It paves the way for the development of more tourism products to be developed and payments in levy to be made from every single tourism product in the province.
Culture and Tourism Minister and local Mt Wilhelm man Tobias Kulang and his CEO Jerry Argus also highlighted that the ‘attitude’ of the Simbu people was one major attraction that could be enhanced to pull in more local and international visitors.
They said apart from the pristine forests, rivers, gorges and colourful traditional cultures, the people of Chimbu had an above average attitude in accepting outsiders and socialising with them.
Governor Noah Kool and Provincial Administrator Joe Kunda said the people of the province missed big time in tourism and were reaped off by outsiders for many years.
They said the understanding between the two organisations marked a new era in tourism and they would liaise and work closely with all concerned parties.
Tourism was not about outsiders coming in and seeing the geography, cultures, flora and fauna Chimbu had on offer but more important about outsiders coming in, feeling satisfied and investing in the province while marketing and promoting Simbu upon their return, Governor Kool and Kunda said.
A big cultural show will be staged before the end of the year to officially kick start the tourism operations in the province, Governor Kool said.
Minister Kulang who is the local Kundiawa-Gembolg MP funded local police to provide security operations along the entire Mt Wilhelm route when he first entered parliament.
The MoU touched the importance on developing other tourism products surrounding Mt Wilhelm.
Pictures of signing and cultural displays during the launching.