TEN villages in Tufi have been provided with a radio communication system worth over K25,000 funded by an Australian businessman in Oro rovince last week, Tufi Dive Resort Manager Simon Tewson said in a statement yesterday.
Gunther Schmidt–Lindner funded the system that consists of long- range aerial, solar panel, battery charger and battery after noticing the need of such a service in this remote area which has not been provided as yet by the National Government and private institutions.
The Resort and Tropic Air jointly assisted in the freighting of the equipment from Sydney and the systems installation.
“Mr Lindner had noticed the need of this service two years ago when arriving from Melbourne to visit the resort,” Mr Tewson said.
He said Mr Lindner had observed that although the resort was encouraging the villages to participate in the tourism industry by operating village guest houses and organising local tours for there guests, communication was a problem.
“Since the area is so spread out, it was very difficult sometimes for the resort to inform the village people of upcoming guest bookings, tours and traditional dances,” Mr Tewson said, adding this usually made the villagers to miss out on the tourist visits.
Meanwhile, a jubilant chairman for Tufi Tourist Association Luke Nunisa thanked Mr Lindner and his family during the commissioning ceremony at Komoa village.
He said not only the villages would be participating effectively in the tourist industry now but the radios would make their lives easier.
“It takes a days walk or paddle on the canoe to get to the Tufi station to have access to services, especially medical attention. But now we can stay in our village and call on the radio to alert health officials in Tufi,” Mr Nunisa said.
Mr Gunther predicted that soon Tufi would be a major world tourist destination.
Currently international tourist cruise ship visiting Tufi, has increased from three trips in 2005 to 14 trips in 2007.