Cruise ships can bring in K860m

By DALE LUMA
THE country can generate US$250 million (K869.60mil) in 18 months if 80 of the 300 cruise ships that sail past the country are invited to visit, says Paga Hill Development Company chief executive officer Gudmundur Fridrikkson.
Fridrikkson said the country needed the right products and facilities such as wharfs.
“PNG needs to diversify its economy and one of the low hanging fruits is tourism,” he said.
“We have over 300 cruise ships that pass Papua New Guinea every year and obviously we have the Covid-19 now but we will get through that and this will recommence.
“To attract some of these ships to Papua New Guinea, we need to have the right products and, by our calculations, getting 80 of the 300 ships in 18 months would bring more than US$250 million back into our economy and over 200,000 new tourists.
“What they need is a good wharf to stop at.
“We have been talking to Kumul about upgrading the wharf in downtown and building a cultural park where all the provinces can be showcase and sell artifacts and produce.
“Also, upgrading the bunkers and maybe creating a peace museum more than a war museum celebrating our role in WWII.
“There will be attractions where people can come off the boat see the culture, eat the food, buy the products and then see the museum, then maybe go to Fisherman Island or a village.
“One of the key components is a casino and duty free.”