ENB counting losses as number of cruise liners dip

THE reduced visits by tourist vessels to East New Britain this year is likely to result in a loss of revenue to small tourism operators estimated at more than K1 million, provincial administrator Wilson Matava says.
Matava wants the Tourism Promotion Authority and the Culture and Tourism Minister (Kokopo MP Emil Tamur) to explain why there is a reduction in cruise liners visiting the province this year.
He said the province had been officially recognised by the Government as a tourist destination.
“Small operators like bus operators, taxi drivers, tour guides will lose their income,” he said.
“This is one of the challenges that we will face this year. Last year, P&O Cruises made 19 visits. Other cruise liners made 20 visits making it a total of 39 visits.
“This year, there will be only nine cruise liners.
“We need to be told so that we work together to improve our products.”
Matava said the province wanted to empower the people to be self-reliant and self-sufficient.
“Our province is more on agriculture and rural industry. Our main commodity crops are cocoa, copra, oil palm, small fisheries projects in coastal communities,” he said.
“We are working with the National Fisheries Authority to develop our tuna terminal as part of the Government’s approach to manage our tuna stocks.”