PNG’s tourism potential highlighted by an Aussie

 I WOULD like to thank and congratulate the people from Alotau, Kitava, Rabaul, Kiriwina and Doini Islands, and surrounding areas for the wonderful hospitality they provided for the tourists on the P&O cruise ship which visited their area in November.

The local people showed the  tourists how rich PNG’s culture is, how beautiful its land is, and how welcoming its people are.

Sadly, in Australia we often only hear negative things about PNG – about violence, corruption, holdups and tribal wars,  which give many Australians (who have never visited PNG) the wrong impression of the country  and its people. 

After the success of the two cruises in November, each of which had 2,000 people onboard, I am confident that the tourists will be spreading the news about what a wonderful and  remarkable place PNG is and encouraging others to find out for themselves by visiting and boosting PNG’s growing tourist industry.

When  there  is  news  of  violence, it usually reaches our shores quite promptly, but positive news never quite gets through.

Maybe it is time the government set up a social media department under its information service to keep people informed of  positive feedbacks such as this letter. 

Catherine Nolan

Melbourne, Australia