Negative publicity hiding Enga’s true beauty, says official

BEING the last frontier of modernisation in the country, Enga’s rich cultures and traditions were well preserved for decades, says a senior tourism official.
Commerce, cultures and tourism director and Enga cultural show and provincial tourism bureau chairlady Margaret Potane told The National: “Enga has always been tagged a tribal fighting zone and we believe one way of correcting this stereotype in peoples’ minds is to showcase our well-kept cultures and attractions.
“We want to show the world that there are so much to see and experience in the province and that they shouldn’t let their fear of tribal fights discourage them to visit the province as tribal fights only happen occasionally and does not involve people from outside.”
She said there had been so much bad publicity regarding law and order in the province that blinded people to see the beauty that the province had to offer. She said one way of promoting the rich culture was through tourism.
Potane said this at the recent launching of the province’s official website at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby.
“The website is a product of the provincial tourism which is my baby because I was the one who initiated the project,” she said.
She said most provinces in the country had lost their cultures and traditions to modernisations.
The website with the slogan “Experience Enga” showcases and promotes Enga’s six districts and the various tourism products that each of these districts have to offer to tourists, both local and international.
“Over the years, we’ve only been selling one main product which is the Enga Cultural Show but now we have five new products to showcase on our website.”