Government told to gather team to review management of Kokoda Track

THE managing director of Adventure Kokoka has called on the Government to engage a professional team to review the management of the Kokoda Track Charlie Lynn, who has spent over 27 years campaigning for the Kokoda Track, said this in support to directions given by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to review the management of the Kokoka trekking industry.
Minister for Environment and Conservation and Climate Change and chairman of the Kokoda Initiative Committee John Pundari, told The National that following O’Neill’s directive, the Office of the Chief Secretary has already established a taskforce to oversee the review.
Pundari said the taskforce consisted of the Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government (DPLLG), managing director for the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) and Deputy Secretary (policy) of the Department of Prime Minister and the National Executive Council.
Lynn said O’Neill made the right decision by directing a review into the management of Kokoda trekking industry.
He said the team must consist of a team of professionals and not bureaucrats from responsible agencies.
“The independent reviewer must comprise of a team of professionals including a lawyer, accountant, marketer and professionals in business and tourism to neutrally review the Kokoda industry management objectively,” Lynn said.
“There must be no bureaucrats from the responsible agencies in the review team because we cannot put in place people who make the mistakes to identify and correct their own faults.
“We must get neutral professionals to professionally review it, so the outcome of this review will set the pace for Kokoda Track industry on a business and professional note.”
Lynn said the review was very crucial for the multi-billion dollar war-time heritage tourism that was sleeping in the country.
He said the Kokoda management model must be done properly to be replicated in other war-time tourism destinations in the country including Taurama, Paga Hill, Hombrum Bluff, Buna, Gona, Sanananda, Milne Bay, Shaggy Ridge, the Black Cat Track, the Finisterre Ranges, the Huon Valley, Wewak, Rabaul and Bougainville.