PNG surfing association pays levies to landowners in Vanimo

THE Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG) recently paid levies to landowners in Vanimo, West Sepik, for the use of their land as a tourist destination for surfers.
SAPNG president Andrew Abel said in a statement that the payments ensured that custodians participated in the benefits of the surfing industry and its contribution to tourism in the country.
“Without the traditional resource custodian’s participation and consent, there is no tourism in PNG as they are the ‘gatekeepers’,” he said. “This source of passive income complements the significant income generated in all provinces where SAPNG has established access agreements in partnership with custodians in Vanimo, Madang, New Ireland and Milne Bay.”
The payments are conducted in surfing communities around PNG at the end of every monsoon surf season from November to April.
“Despite the Covid-19, we are able to receive these cash monies for our resources that have been used by international surfers,” landowner spokesperson Florian Dati said.
“We thank SAPNG for creating this opportunity for us to earn an income.”