Re-opening of Kegesuglo rural airstrip to boost tourism in Mt Wilhelm

Business

By ZACHERY PER
Local tourism operators and guesthouse operators and people at Mt Wilhelm in Chimbu can now transport goods to sell when work at the abandoned rural airstrip is completed.
Mt Wilhelm is the highest mountain in PNG and one of the biggest tourism attractions. It is also an area renowned for its trout from the mountain lakes and sweet strawberries.
However, goods and services to the area have been affected over the last 20 years, due to closure of Kegelsuglo rural airstrip.
Mt Wilhelm tour guide and Lake Piunde guesthouse operator, Vincent Don said he was delighted at the 90 per cent completion of the airstrip by Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA).
“The re-opening of Kegesuglo airstrip will allow an easy air route for tourists bound for Mt Wilhelm,” he said. “It will also allow for easy transportation of fresh vegetables from the area into open markets in PNG.”
Don said the airstrip was closed for over 20 years following lack of maintenance, until RAA and Kundiawa-Gembogl district development authority stepped in.
He said tourism with the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables was their main source of income. “When the airstrip is opened in a few weeks time, there will be more opportunity opened up for the people to earn an income,” Don said.
“The current bad road conditions and tiring road travel from Kundiawa to Mt Wilhelm have been an impediment.”
Don said the best trout from Mt Wilhelm could now easily be flown to Port Moresby, Mt Hagen, Goroka and mines around the country.
“I thank former Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang and his then district development authority for signing a memorandum-of-understanding to upgrade the airstrip,” he said.
Chief executive of RAA John Bromley and former chief executive officer of Kundiawa-Gembogl DDA Gand Mondo signed agreement in October 2016 at Kegesuglo.