East New Britain tour guides get world federation training

TEN tour guides in East New Britain have undergone training to boost their skills.
It is the first time the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association has held a training course in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
Local tour company Rabaul Discovery and Eco-Tourism Tours sponsored the training.
Association head trainer Steve McAuley spent weeks in East New Britain with the participants.
General manager Douglas Pidi said capacity building was important in developing human resources for the industry.
“I truly believe in capacity building and such training is an example of what we can do,” McAuley said.
“The challenge is to develop this in the province and to run with all sectors – all people, government and industry.”
Pidi thanked local historian Gideon Kakabin who connected the local tour company to the WFTGA.
He sat through the training himself.
Pidi said ENB had a 400-year-old history that should be preserved.
“Our cultural heritage is very important and we need to preserve it. It is that history, that heritage, that influence, that made us who we are today,” he said.