Tourism growth in region stagnant: MP

THE development of tourism potential in the Highlands region remains stagnant due to lack of support from provincial governments and district development authorities, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Tobias Kulang says.
The Kundiawa-Gembogl MP raised this concern following complaints raised by tourism officers in the seven Highlands provinces at a regional tourism development conference in Mt Hagen last week.
Kulang said this was an embarrassing state of affairs for a region that had a lot to offer and gain in terms of tourism.
The industry once developed properly can support the economy of the region in a substantial manner.
He said provinces could not wait every year for the Government’s budgetary support.
“They should focus on growing their own economic bases with industries like tourism and agriculture to supplement that support and become more self-reliant.
“Most Highlands provinces have huge agriculture and tourism potentials but are not performing well in terms of internal revenue generation.”