Kokopo hosts tourism awareness

THE East New Britain Tourism Authority, in collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC), launched a week-long tourism awareness campaign in Kokopo yesterday.
The objective of the awareness is to give people in the province a better understanding of tourism and its benefits.
IFC representative Sara King said educating the people on tourism was critical in growing the sector in East New Britain.
“Recent figures released at the launch of the PNG international visitor survey last week has shown that there is a steady rise in the number of visitors visiting East New Britain,” she said.
The survey carried out by IFC in partnership with the PNG Tourism Association and New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, reported that around 95,000 visitors arrived in the country by air last year, generating
more than K690 million in the economy.
King said according to the international visitor survey figures, 7,570 people visited East New Britain in 2018 which was an increase of 17 per cent from 2017.
The awareness team will visit schools, communities at Kokopo and Rabaul with basic messages on tourism.
King said IFC’s tourism work in PNG was focused on supporting the development of tourism business, improving tourism related conditions and helping attract investment.
She said IFC was working with the World Bank to improve tourism services in ENB and Milne Bay.
IFC’s work in the country is guided by the partnership programme with PNG, Australia and New Zealand to stimulate private sector investment and reduce poverty in the pacific.