Operators relieved about return of cruise ships

LOCAL tour operators in the Kokopo and Rabaul areas of East New Britain are happy that cruise ships are back in the province.
Tourism was the worst affected sector over the last two years of enforced lockdowns because of the Coronavirus with landowners of tourist sites, vendors, tour operators, the provincial government and the people of East New Britain missing out on this source of revenue.
A landowner of the famous World War Two barge tunnels built by Japanese occupying forces said he was thankful the national government had lifted a ban on cruise ships coming into PNG waters.
Joel Tarere, who owns land at Karavia along the Kokopo-Rabaul road where the Japanese barge tunnels are located, said tourists were returning to see this historic site and this in turn was generating revenue not just for him but others in the wider community as well.
“We are thankful that the mothers can sell their handcraft to sustain their families,” he said.