Tourist visas to be thoroughly checked

Tourists wanting to visit Papua New Guinea will have their visas go through a strict screening process following the Kokoda incident.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato in a statement said, “I have instructed the Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha for immigration to apply more stringent screening measures on foreigners from eligible countries applying for visa on arrival are genuine tourists who have adequate funds to support themselves and have a planned and coordinated tour itinerary.

“Given that there is now suspicions of the story been fabricated by the two individuals for their own benefit, and whilst awaiting completion of the investigation.      

“Whilst the matter is now a subject of police investigation to establish the correct facts, I can confirm from information provided by PNG Immigration & Citizenship Service Authority (PNGICSA) that both Mathew lovane of the United Kingdom and Michelle Clemens of the United States entered PNG through Jacksons International Airport on January 6, 2016 and were granted visitor visas on arrival.

“PNGICSA is conducting their separate and independent investigation to assess if the tourists have provided factual information upon application for a grant of the relevant visa on arrival at the airport to ascertain the accuracy of allegations reported in the media.

“It is an immigration offence if information provided was not true in terms of the purposes of their visit.

“The couples were accorded all assistance required to leave the country by responsible authorities after the alleged incident.

“However, their departure heralded an unprecedented international news coverage which unfortunately was highly sensationalized.

“Besides details of the incident which is subject to an ongoing police investigation, any misreporting of the facts about PNG and the famous Kokoda track only jeopardizes the reputation of PNG as a tourist destination and the good image of Kokoda Track which many people, including the locals and tour operators has spent time and resource to build over the years,” Pato said.

 

Author: 
Charles Yapumi