Tourists challenged to return to Goroka

National, Normal
Source:

By ZACHERY PER

THE deputy prime minister has encouraged tourists and other visitors from abroad to continue to come to PNG to see displays and unique performances of cultural festivities and traditions unknown to the world.
Don Polye made the call when officially opening the 54th Goroka cultural show in Eastern Highlands last Friday.
“In Papua New Guinea, you will meet friendly people and enjoy their wonderful dances and songs to the beat of kundu drums, beautiful body decorations and other events,” he said.
“Come and enjoy the performances of the Huli wigmen, Sili-Muli women of Enga, Hagen Wipas of Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Chimbu dancers adorned with Bird of Paradise plumes, body motions of Eastern Highlands, the kundu drum of Morobe, the bamboo bands of Bougainville, the Baining fire dancers of East New Britain, tubuans of New Ireland, haus tambaran rituals from the Sepiks, exotic tapioka dancers from  the Trobiand Islands, Manus dancers and the Papuan traders at the Hiri Moale festival in NCD and so on.”
He said nowhere else would visitors come across a traditional dancer from East New Britain walking on the sea without any form of aid or jumping barefoot into burning coals and retreating unhurt, a Sepik magician being transformed into a crocodile in the men’s house or a man from Marakas walking on a piece of rope.
“While I encourage you to come back, I also wish to thank you for visiting PNG and having the interest to do so over the years,” Polye told tourists and other visitors from abroad at the show.
He also urged Papua New Guineans to preserve and promote their unique and diverse cultures and traditions.
“We will lose them if we are not careful. It is important that we keep them.”
Eighty-two singsing groups performed at the National Sports Institute arena attracting thousands of people from all over the country including overseas tourists and visitors.
There were also agricultural and commercial displays.