Morobe tourism has potential

I WOULD like to comment on the article ‘Tourism a sleeping giant’ (The National, Sept 12).
The statement by the Morobe governor to describe tourism in the province as a sleeping giant was spot-on.
The province has lots of tourism attractions, including conservation areas, historical sites, botanical gardens, islands and many more.
They need to be revived, promoted and made available.
There was once an established body that looked after tourism and it played a vital role in the promotion of tourism in the province. That organisation has ceased to be functional because of funding issues and the lack of support from the Morobe government.
It is time now for the government of Morobe to revive the organisation and give it the task of managing tourism and cultural promotion in the province.
The recent signing of an agreement between the Morobe governor, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Tourism Promotion Authority and other government departments is the way forward.
The onus is now with the provincial government to revive and promote tourism by reviving the Morobe Tourism Bureau as an independent body to oversee all the cultural and tourism activities in the province.
The province has so much to offer for the people of Morobe, including the government of Morobe and the statutory bodies responsible.
It has the potential to attract international tourists and can provide income-earning opportunities for local people, just like what tourism is providing the people of East New Britain, Milne Bay and other tourism-oriented provinces.
The nine districts in the province can be turned into tourism hubs, but to achieve that needs government support.
Tourism can help enhance mining and other industries to boost Morobe’s economy and lift the standard of living of people in the province.

Eulogia Kareng, Lae