Track development plan for Mount Wilhelm launched
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
 LOCATED in the Kundiawa/Gembogl district of Simbu province, Mt Wilhelm, PNG’s highest mountain stands at 4,509 meters above sea level.
In the near future the people of Gembogl can expect an influx of tourists into the area following the recent launch of the Mt Wilhelm Track Development Plan.
The plan developed by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority at the cost of K50,000 aims to make Mt Wilhelm a trekking destination for Papua New Guineans and tourists.
Hundreds of people gathered last Friday at Kegesuglo, where the trek to Mt Wilhelm begins to witness the launching and celebrate the beginning of new era in tourism.
Access to the area will be made easier once the Government utilizes K27 million funding from the Asian Development Bank to carry out major maintenance on the 40-km road from Kundiawa town to Kegesuglo.
Kunndiawa/Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine launched the plan describing it as a milestone achievement for the people and the province.
Contributions of K70, 000 from TPA and K30,000 from Mr Teine from his district development fund would enable the Mt Wilhelm Trek Development Committee to construct good trekking facilities and give hospitality and first aid training to the locals to better assist tourists.
Betty Higins, one of the guest house operators at Kegesuglo said during the launching that in the past 20 years many tourists who visited her place to climb the mountain complained about the lack of trekking facilities.
She said the new plan would help develop trekking as a major attraction.
She urged her people to take ownership of the plan and not to make things difficult for tourists and guest house operators in the area.
Mr Teine said the plan showed the Government and TPA’s commitment to developing tourism in the area.
He said he would work closely with the TPA to make Mt Wilhelm a first class tourist and trekking destination.
TPA policy and planning manager Jerry Agus said it was the Authority’s initiative to develop trekking in other parts of the country apart from Kokoda Track.
Mr Agus said that Mt Wilhelm was chosen because it has the potential to attract more tourists.
He urged the locals to take ownership of the project as they stand to benefit from tourists in many ways like as guides, porters, selling artifacts, providing accommodation or selling fresh produce.
He said that if the locals fight over landownership or argued about who to control the funds and resources it would affect the implementation of the plan.
He told the people that the plan they launched belongs to them, to implement and benefit from tourism.
Apart from the financial assistance the TPA would continue to support the locals with technical support and marketing assistance.
Governor Fr John Garia said that he would help by creating websites about Mt Wilhelm to bring in more tourists from all over the world.
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