Calls to revive tourism bureau

National

By NICHOLAS SIREO
FORMER tour guide and translator for Japanese tourists Patrick Angonde has called on the Government to revive the Morobe Tourism Bureau.
He made the call after Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said tourism should be developed because it would become the backbone of the economy after oil and gas had gone.
Angonde, from Finschhafen in Morobe, said the province had the potential to be a tourism hub of PNG due to its large landmass.
“There are war relics located across the province and Morobe has beautiful landscapes and treks along its mountain ranges,” he said.
Agonde said the rich culture and bio-diversity were untapped and would surely attract many tourists.
He said it was therefore important to revive the Morobe Tourism Bureau to facilitate the growth of tourism in the province.
Agonde studied the Japanese language on a part-time basis at the University of Papua New Guinea and worked as a tour guide for years.
“Six years ago, the Morobe Tourism Bureau ceased operations and tourism declined in the province so many of us who worked as guides lost our jobs,” he said.
He said Morobe had tourism attractions such as Sarawagad Air Wreck Trek, Black Cat and varieties of arts and crafts.