Ban on cruise ships lifted

EAST New Britain has lifted the ban on cruise ships visiting Rabaul port, says Governor Michael Marum.
The ban was imposed over two years ago due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Marum said the ENB Tourism Authority, the body responsible for all tourism activities, would ensure cruise ships returned to the province.
Marum also said ENB was a tourism hub which generated its income through many tourism activities including the cruise ships visits.
Marum had instructed the ENBTA to focus on improving existing infrastructure like tracks leading to tourism sites and also providing better shelter for mothers who sold their artefacts to tourists at Rabaul port.
“We just needed to get basic things right like improving our facilities in the different sites for tourists to see and also allow the shops to open on Sundays,” said Marum.
He would make sure the sector received full support from the provincial government.
“There are a lot of tourism sites including war time Japanese caves, the hot springs, war cemeteries as well as other sites that need to be maintained so tourists can visit these sites,” Marum said.