 |
Milne Bay tourism hit by flight
disruptions
I REFER to the various comments on Air Niugini’s poor performance.
The company’s CEO Kumarasiri, it seems, has very little idea of what is
happening out in the field.
Here in Milne Bay, we have worked hard over the past six years to develop
the area as a fairly priced tourist destination.
We have plenty of cheap accommodation in hotels and village guest houses.
Local transport keeps travelling costs down.
We have invested our own resources into marketing the province and have
steadily built up a steady stream of inbound tourists.
We keep our prices low, and as Kumarasiri should know, rely on a regular
turnover of clients to cover our overheads and increase business.
But we are constantly being let down by Air Niugini. Afternoon flights are
being cancelled, causing tourists to be stranded and while they stay back,
it is on Air Niugini’s expense. We have to absorb the costs first and it
takes quite a while before we are paid. Cash paid up front by incoming
visitors is much better.
It costs K30 for a taxi to go to Gurney airport but now it costs K60 because
of the return trip due to cancelled flights
Hotels are also not informed in advance about such cancellations. It is
disappointing for the village guest house owners to travel all the way to
town from the islands to meet people from the plane that never arrives.
What a waste of time for the traditional dancers who have collected their
bilas to meet and greet their visitors. How long before they start to lose
interest?
It is also frustrating for the taxis who drive all the way out to Gurney to
meet planes that never arrive. How will they recoup their fuel costs?
Often, the hotels have a quiet Thursday and prepare for a full house over
the weekends only to be disappointed and all the food prepared go to waste.
Milne Bay has been selected as a model tourist destination. We cannot even
get the support from Air Niugini to arrange for a cheap excursion rate from
Cairns. Rock bottom prices and intensive marketing and flights that move on
time will develop this very lucrative industry. We need new ideas to support
the tourism industry.
Gretta Todurawai
MB Tourism
Board chairman
Alotau |
 |
