Businessman: More express vessels needed

BUSINESSMAN Sir Peter Barter says the Government should provide more express vessels to support sea transport in Papua New Guinea.
“This will help reduce maritime accidents or fatalities by doing away with travel by banana boats,” he said.
Sir Peter, who is Melanesian Tourist Services (MTS) Ltd chairman, said Madang had a record 30 per cent in fatalities.
He spoke at the launch of a K3 million Kalibobo Express vessel in Madang on Saturday.
For the safety of those who travel by sea, Sir Peter said he hoped the Government would adopt better vessels in other maritime provinces in the near future.
He added that Milne Bay, East Sepik and East New Britain had expressed interest in the Kalibobo Express vessel and “we will invite them to inspect it”.
Sir Peter said: “Our final dream is to restore tourism to PNG.
“Twenty years ago, MTS attracted 16,000 tourists, most of whom visited PNG to travel aboard the Melanesian Discoverer along the Sepik and through the Islands of Milne Bay.
“This dream has never diminished despite the many obstacles that have resulted in almost a total collapse of the tourist industry.
“We need to provide facilities to satisfy this sector of tourists who make it a point to learn about the diversities of what we can offer.
“I have never been an advocate of mass tourism, mega cruise ships for a variety of reasons but having witnessed tourists from all over the world, I am convinced that we need to provide these facilities.
“MTS, in the near future, will build a replacement of the Melanesian Discoverer to be known as the Niugini Discoverer and aboard the Kalibobo Express, we have a model of the proposed vessel that will accommodate a select group of 50 ‘well heeled’ tourists who will contribute towards our foreign exchange, and equally important our image as a world-class tourist destination.”