Commendable change shows up in Apec tourism meeting

By MARK HAIHUIE
SEVERAL agendas were pioneered by Papua New Guinea during the two-day Apec Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting.
Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive and TWG chair Jerry Agus told The National there was a commendable change from previous Apec meetings on tourism he had attended.
The agendas from PNG were on strategies to include more women in the sector, how to maximise benefits from cruise ships and volun-tourism.
“These are new initiatives that we are putting forward to the Apec TWG,” Agus said.
“We don’t want to always be on the receiving end, but rather, we want to express our views and hear others on this.
“Papua New Guinea, being the host, allows us to put forward what is relevant for us and to have the region develop and share ways to address this.”
Agus said that the discussion from the Apec TWG would go towards the Apec Tourism Ministers’ Meeting that started today and ended tomorrow with a technical visit to Kavieng, New Ireland.
He said the Government had chosen New Ireland ahead of other provinces to host the ministers.
“They have two (New Ireland) programmes, one land-based and the-sea based,” Agu said.
“The land may go along the Boluminski Highway up to the eel farm, and also visit some sites along the road.
“The ones going by the sea will go to a couple of sites for diving and snorkeling.
“When they both get back to Kavieng, there will be a cultural show organised by the provincial government.
“After that they will come back to Port Moresby.”