German cruise ship in the country

A CRUISE ship from Germany berthed at the Wewak wharf last Saturday morning with more than 100 European tourists.
After clearance was made, shuttle runs were arranged by the newly-established local tour operator Sepik Travel Palm Services (STPS), to the public market, war memorial sites, scenic views and village settings.
Later in the evening, the tourists were entertained on departure by the Sinari cultural troupe, a community-based cultural group from Chambri Lakes based in Wewak.
The ship, Ms Bremen, departed Wewak at 10pm last Sunday for Madang.
Ms Bremen left Madang yesterday and is expected to arrive in Taum, Morobe province, this morning before going on to the Trobriand Islands and Misima tomorrow.
It sails out of PNG to Noumea, New Caledonia, on Friday.
Meanwhile, STPS has thanked all the people of East Sepik for the hospitality and warm welcome to all tourists in Wewak.
STPS management has also made a special request to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to immediately negotiate with PNG Port Corporation, and the National Government
to consider improving port services for tourists such as passenger terminals, designated parking lots, kiosk for tourist information and art and craft selling.
Special entry permits for tourists, local operators, service providers and security were other areas the tour operator also requested attention.
STPS believed that this would encourage major National Tour operators such as Melanesian Tourist Services and Paradise Adventure Tours who are the major tour operators in PNG to comfortably market PNG as a destination under cruise-ship tours.
For East Sepik province cruise ships, land-based memorial tours, village tours, cultural tours and Sepik River and Island tours, contact STPS on Ph/Fax 856 2958, or write to Sepik Travel Palm Services, P.O. Box 473, Wewak, ESP, Papua New Guinea.