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The New Zealand government though its programmes plans to assist Papua
New Guinea in alleviating poverty because it believes PNG could develop
further with the help of its tourism industry.
Its aid agency – NZAID has been working closely with the PNG Tourism
Promotion Authority (TPA) by giving financial assistance for certain
tourism workshops.
A statement released by the TPA pointed out that NZAID has put its focus
on improving living conditions of the rural communities and improving
the earning capacities of its people.
And it believes the tourism industry is the perfect vehicle to achieve
those goals.
The statement said that the tourism industry was community based and all
products and services could be offered and delivered at that level.
TPA is now preparing for the ‘Train the Trainers’ workshop for tour
guides and potters starting next week at the Minj hotel in the Western
Highlands province.
It had come to the attention of NZAID and TPA that the number of
trekkers coming to PNG had grown at a fast rate, therefore there was a
high demand to have well trained guides and porters.
On Wednesday, New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG Neils Holm presented
a cheque of K87,000 to TPA’s chief executive officer Peter Vincent to
fund the various workshops.
Both TPA and NZAID believed that the industry, if properly developed,
could play a major role in keeping people away from social issues and at
the same time
create employment and business opportunities for the people.
 
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