Transcript
The IFC report says locations like Alotau, Kokopo, Rabaul, Kitava, Doini Island and Kiriwina are all boosted by cruise visits. The IFC's Nimarta Chung-Banga says for example each ship that visited Kokopo brought around 100 thousand dollars to the town in one hit. Although she says to fully realise the industry's financial potential, infrastructure needs to impove, as well as education of locals on the nuances of tourism.
NIMARTA CHUNG-BANGA: "Having formalised groups where the communication on cruises is happening in a streamlined manner. The local businessmen and local sellers are being clearly informed on what is it that the tourists are looking for so that they can customise their product and maximise their sales and at the same time the passengers are being informed on what is available so they can fully use that opportunity."
However people like Steven Wari, who runs a tourism operation in the highlands town of Tari, are hoping that stayover tourism is not neglected and people still travel inland to experience authentic PNG.
STEVEN WARI: "They had been driving across the fighting fields there, clan war areas and staying with warriors, sleeping together and eating together with the warriors in these smaller villages. They do adventure things like trekking and something like that. I usually take them across the fighting battle fields and everything."
Nirmata Chung-Banga explains there are great ripple effects from cruise tourism. She says it is a great way of opening up a destination - once people have had their appetite aroused, it can lead to increased air arrivals. It can also bring other improvements.
NIMARTA CHUNG-BANGA: "Cruise tourism helps the focus to be on developing good tours that mesh with tourists and based on their liking. Developing a good variety of tours, ensuring all the destinations that are covered in the tours are well developed and are able to tackle the tourists that want to come in . So in terms of product development, it makes the destination ready."
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority agrees that cruise ships hold tremendous potential for PNG. CEO Jerry Agus says it is also important to capitalise on the financial benefits for the sake of development. He says because of the burden that ships can place on resources, it's important to fully realise the economic power they can wield.
JERRY AGUS: "When they go to a small town, the exert a bit of pressure on our local residents in terms of taking transportation, especially the buses. Sometimes when the cruise ships come and dock in places like Alotau they need to get fresh water and that puts pressure on our local water supply systems."
Mr Agus says the government is starting to realise what cruise tourism can do for PNG and starting to invest appropriately.
