Hotelier wants tourism boost

A LODGE operator in Ialibu, Pangia district, has called on the office of tourism, arts and culture to support the tourism industry in the Southern Highlands.
Kirene Lodge managing director Siro Yoko said tourism was very important in the province because “they have the multi-billion kina liquefied natural gas project (LNG) in the province”.
He said there were many people flying in and out of the province and, by 2013, there would be even more people and the province needed a proper hotel industry to cater for this.
He said the division of tourism and hospitality in the province had not supported the hotel industry for the past 30 years.
Yoko said tourism was a very important aspect of generating revenue for the local economy.
He said some people tried their best to build lodges and hotels but needed funding to expand their businesses.
He said the LNG project on their door step and yet most of the developments were taking place in the National Capital District.
“This is an absolutely unfair distribution of development because the legitimate landowners do not benefit from the multi-billion kina project,” he said.
He said Kirene Lodge, which was located a few kilometres outside of Mendi town, accommodated more than 10 people.
He said his aim was to provide cheap accommodation for visitors.