PNG Tourism

Kumura recently launched the first eco-tourism product in the remote mountain village of Snow Pass in Bundi, Madang Province.

The Richmond Haus lodge is located at mid-point between the majestic Ramu plains and the lofty ridges of Mt. Wilhelm.

Local and international visitors can enjoy the peaceful scenery as it is a major transition point for migrating birds passing up and down.

The eco-lodge specialises in offering eco-tourism products and services such as tracking, bird watching, star gazing, culture and the rich flora and faunas.

This was slightly below the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority’s focus to record 200,000 arrivals in 2015.

Statistics from PNGTPA has revealed that in 2015, PNG received about 198,685 international visitors.

PNGTPA acting chief executive officer Eric Mossman Uvovo said the huge drop in arrival is due to employment and the wind down of the LNG construction.

The arrivals in 2015 indicate that nearly 35 percent (69,540) of our visitors come for business purposes.

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang said that in the last 40 years, PNG has been depending too much on mineral resources and hydro carbon proceeds that we don’t pay attention to sustainable industries.

Kulang said we need to invest in sustainable industries so that when the minerals become exhausted, we can depend on sustainable resources to contribute immensely to the country’s economy.

“Tourism is a very serious industry where in other countries and contributes immensely to their economic growth.

Polye said with all the world-standard hotels and pristine environment the country had to offer to visitors and tourists, it was ‘shocking’ to learn of ‘PNG’s unfavourable spot’ in the industry ranking.

He said  the low ranking was a wake-up call for everyone to do their part to improve it.

He further said “our environment and natural life” should be preserved as parks, zoos and sanctuaries for a show-case to the world.

The 2014 annual figures released by PNG Tourism Promotion Authority today at the marketing training workshop in Port Moresby showed that, 30,000 Australians travelled on tourist visas to their closest neighbor. 

This account to more than 50 percent people travelling from Australia than other destinations.     

United States saw 6,600 people visiting, United Kingdom 3,200, Europe (Germany) 4,600, Japan 1,500 and Asia destinations 6,500.

Tourism has a big potential in the country but only raked in a mare K440 million in 2014 alone.

They visited Grand Papua and Holiday Inn, the Nature Park and spent four nights at Tufi Resort in the Oro province.

PNGTPA Marketing Officer, Michael Taia said, the tour agents will make recommendations to potential travellers on the places to visit in PNG.

“It’s important that tour agents are familiar with PNG and what can be experienced so they can market and promote our country abroad,” said Taia.

TPA will once again be involved in the 2015 Lukim Nau Expo managed in conjunction with the Tourism Industry Association.