Goroka ‘no show’ will affect tourism industry

 The National Sports Institute should be thoroughly ashamed of itself for trying to cause the cancellation of the Goroka Show this year.

It will be a major blow for Papua New Guinea’s struggling tourism industry if it doesn’t go ahead because it is not only the 2016 Goroka  Show that will be affected.  

Cruise ship companies and travel agencies plan their international tours many years in advance to include events of major interest to their potential clients.    

If the 2016 Goroka Show doesn’t go ahead as advertised many years ago,  none of these tour organisers will ever trust PNG show organisers again and the Goroka, Hagen and Milne Bay shows will go the way of the Hiri Moale Festival with its on and off again change of dates and consequential non-attendance by tour groups. 

If Eric Mossman, the chief executive officer of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority  and Minister for Sports and Tourism Justin  Tkatchenko are serious about their jobs, they will make sure the Goroka Show goes ahead so that the hundreds of local people who rely on such shows for income and entertainment as well as the many tourists who have already booked for the event, are not disappointed.

Janetta Douglas, Via email