Emil Tammur

Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur, pledged to promote the province at the recent 2018 Goroka Show.

Minister Tammur opened the 62^nd Annual Goroka Show on Saturday in front of thousands of people, including 150 cultural groups from across PNG and more than 1,000 tourists.

He said we have the right to determine what sort of economic developments we want for ourselves on our land, and we must use these birthrights to embrace tourism and agriculture developments as real sustainable industries.

The Minister admitted the despite some logistical challenges, the 150-member PNG contingent will be flying the flag high at the 6th Melanesian Festival of Arts in Honiara.

The Minister, who also took time to be part of the contingents’ welcome parade on Sunday, said the country needed positive news about human and cultural empowerment through a celebration of customs and traditions unique to the region.

Minister Tammur says the two week festival will be a good opportunity to exchange cultures and develop on bilateral relationships beyond the political arena.

Minister Emil Tammur, accompanied by the Acting Executive Director of National Cultural Commission John Uani, acting director of the National Museum and Arts Gallery Alois Kuaso and officials from the Ministry arrived on Monday.

Tammur will be chairing the meeting today (June 28) at the Heritage Hotel where enhancement of Melanesian arts, culture, education and music and other related issues will be discussed.

Other ministers from the Melanesian Island states, including Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands will be in attendance as well.

Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur, made the call when presenting K50,000 to the Sepik River Crocodile Festival.

Tammur said cultural festivals are getting hard to deliver every year because of the increasing cost of hosting such events, and the private sector would do well to support the Government to promote and maintain our unique cultural heritage, especially in these tough economic times. 

He said many of the cultural festivals around the country are struggling to source funding and any support from the private sector would be greatly appreciated.

Minister Tammur said the nation was at a critical stage of its development and constant negative publications of news stories by the PNG media was unhelpful for progress and development.

Tammur called on media houses to focus on driving a positive news agenda to stimulate growth and investment for our country, not only in tourism but in all sectors of the economy.

He said with PNG already engaged in hosting APEC meetings, we should all be resonating what makes us a proud people in the Pacific and the wider global community.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Emil Tammur, says none of the funds will be kept or managed in the two provinces.

Minister Tammur stated this to clarify misunderstanding following comments in the mainstream and social media about the US$20 million loan.

“The Tourism Promotion Authority will be the project implementing agency for the PNG Government, working in close consultation with a World Bank project monitoring team,” said Minister Tammur.

Producers of the show aim to film at least two seasons of the popular reality show in the Province and hope to begin production in June.

Minister Tammur said a meeting will be held next week with the producers to move forward plans of the production.

“And we have already collaborated with the guys in the US who are in Sydney, who we will meet next week when they come over,” said the Minister.

During the presentation, Member for Kokopo and Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Emil Tammur, said the DSIP funds were from the people of Kokopo to assist with hospital functions.

He was pleased to make the presentation on behalf of his constituency and the government to Deputy Director Medical Services Dr. Delly Babona, witnessed by Catholic Health Secretary Moses Bogandri.  

In a recent introductory meeting with the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur, Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Davis, reaffirmed the willingness of his government to support and assist tourism projects and programs in preparation for APEC 2018 and beyond.

Both leaders discussed on how best they would work together to develop the industry and ensure maximum benefits from the sector reach the local people at the community level across the country.

The Museum has been working closely with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the PNG Governance Facility to activate part of the Museum’s master plan to cater for APEC.

The National Museum and Art Gallery is one of the few precincts in Port Moresby identified by the APEC Secretariat in 2015 to host the spouses of APEC Leaders.