ALL members of the Bougainville House of Representatives have been challenged to support tourism in their constituencies.
This message is from the Member for Hagogohe Constituency in the Autonomous Bougainville Government Robert Hamal Sawa.
Speaking to Loop PNG in Buka the member said tourism has the potential of drawing in millions into the region apart from mining and cash crops.
“As a three term member of parliament, I have realised tourism has a real potential for development and for income generation,” Sawa said.
“The visit of the National Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang to Bougainville to launch the Programme just seals it all and proves that we can make tourism on Bougainville work, we can drive it and we can also benefit from it,” he said.
“Through Tourism even the grassroots and the un-educated the illiterate can make money for themselves and the effects and impact of tourism can be felt at the village level,” Sawa said.
“A classic example, village based people in Tinputz went all the way to Guam for the Pacific Festival of Arts another country in the Pacific in United States Territory, that means they have been to America already. These are village people not the working class,” an excited Sawa said.
“ I would to appeal to all my fellow Members of Parliament to help fund singing groups, theatre groups and potential tourism sites for tourists to come and visit,” Sawa said.