Emirau can be a tourist destination: Ling-Stuckey

THE Emirau island in New Ireland can be transformed into a thriving tourist destination, says Kavieng MP Ian Ling-Stuckey.
He attended a community development forum there last Thursday.
On March 20, 1944, nearly 4,000 United States marines landed on the island as part of US Gen Douglas MacArthur’s strategy for the encirclement of the major Japanese base at Rabaul in East New Britain.
The base was located in the Murat local level government area.
They built two airstrips, harbour facilities including a PT boat base, a floating dry dock and slipway and 64km coral-surface all-weather road.
“Much of that infrastructure remains on the island today,” Ling-Stuckey said.
“Those infrastructure provided a natural habitat for tourism and the potential for small to medium enterprises development.
“With honest leadership and a realistic tourism and business strategy for Emirau, the island could be transformed into a thriving tourism destination.
“Tourism development on the island can provide much needed small to mediun business opportunities for the declining population.”