Situated on the Bismarck Ranges in the foothills of Papua New Guinea’s highest peak Mount Wilhelm – the Bundi Komba Festival – is a melting pot of unique and diverse cultures from the four land bordering provinces of Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka and Madang.
On March 28, prior to the actual festival, more than 20 motorbike riders from the Simbu Bikers Association will depart Kundiawa town for Bundi to signal the arrival of the 2019 Bundi Komba Festival which runs from April 2 – 4, 2019. The bikers will be accompanied by a local film crew to produce a video promoting adventure and cultural tourism potential in the land of a hundred mountains.
Tourism Promotion Authority Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jerry Agus said the festival has the potential to be a major tourist attraction for the region and TPA was proud to support the festival for the first time with a K30,000 sponsorship in 2019.
Mr. Agus said with TPA’s limited funding for cultural events in 2019, TPA was always happy to sponsor such community initiated festivals which has being staged for two consecutive years without any outside support and where communities use their own resources to stage and promote events over time.
“This gives TPA comfort knowing that festivals such as the Bundi Komba Festival are genuine and the K30,000 sponsorship is our token of appreciation. It is also a tick of endorsement from TPA that you are a recognized cultural festival for tourism purposes,” he said.
Bundi Komba Festival chairman Vincent Ambani Kumura was overjoyed by the support from TPA saying this was the very first outside sponsorship since inception in 2017. Mr. Kumura called for more support from government and corporate sector partners particularly the Usino-Bundi District Development Authority and the Madang Provincial Government saying the festival is growing bigger and needs more recognition and assistance to develop the regions huge tourism potential.
The festival is an initiative of the Kumura Foundation Incorporated and is supported by key stakeholders such as the Tourism and Hospitality School of Divine Word University. It will play host to more than 12 singsing groups and 1,000 plus visitors over the 3 days of the festival this year.
Source: Tourism Promotion Authority Media Release
