by Mickey Kavera – EM TV, Port Moresby
Tourism in Madang province of Papua New Guinea has also been a thriving sector in recent years.
But various factors such as a lack of funding and petty crime have contributed to its current decline, with less than a thousand tourists visiting annually.
The provincial tourism bureau which coordinates tourism and culture in the province has been struggling as well to boost the sector.
During the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, it staged what it described as the most successful Madang Festival in over three years.
The two-day festival attracted over 10,000 people from Papua New Guinea and abroad who flocked to see the festival.
40 cultural groups showcased Madang’s unique cultures to the visitors.
It reaffirmed Madang as a tourist hub and restored confidence in the business and the people.
Jane Naso of the Madang Tourism, Arts and Cultural Bureau hopes the festival will reboot the sector and bring much needed revenue to the provincial coffers as well as improving people’s livelihood.
Co-Chair of the festival, Richard Jones, was impressed with the turnout.
He said there are plans for a festival to mark the 40th Independence and work is in progress.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lIMUiBKW9I4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
