The Potential for Ecotourism in Papua New Guinea

Ecotourism can be defined as visitation to exotic places or threatened ecosystems to observe wildlife or to help in the effort to preserve nature for the benefit of present and future generations. Cultural sites, caves, waterfalls, historical tracks and sites, agriculture hubs, picturesque mountain tops and beaches, and cultural shows and craft-making can be potential places and activities for ecotourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

PNG is a country endowed with fast-flowing rivers, vast flood plains, thick jungles, limestone cliffs and caves, coral atolls, sand cays, picturesque mountain tops and coral reefs, and vegetation types that range from mosquito-infested mangrove swamps on the coastline of Madang Province to tundra and alpine types of vegetation at the top of Mt. Wilhemn in Simbu Province.

If one walks in a straight line from the coastline of Madang Province to the top of Mt. Wilhemn in Simbu Province, one will encounter most vegetation types found from the hot tropics to the sub-artic regions of the northern hemisphere. Therefore, the Island of New Guinea, which includes PNG and West Papua and is the second largest island in the world, is a unique place in terms of flora and fauna and geography in the world.

PNG sits on a pot of gold that could be developed for ecotourism ventures to improve the lives of rural populations and bring in much needed foreign currency to boost the economy. The country is one of the most diverse nations in the world in terms of geography, language, ethnicity, and biodiversity. But little has been developed in terms of ecotourism to date, with much of the country’s unique diversity remaining largely unknown to local and international tourists.

James Marape, the current Prime Minister, has called on all Papua New Guineans to take back PNG by developing the agriculture sector. However, the call falls short of the country’s full potential to take back PNG because the rural industry in PNG includes more than the agriculture sector. Forestry, horticulture, fisheries, and ecotourism are other rural sectors that have the potential to be used to take back PNG as well.

Ecotourism, as one of the rural industries that could be used to alleviate rural poverty and bring in much-needed foreign currency to boost the economy, does not need much in terms of infrastructure development to get it off the ground. Well-constructed village bungalows made from traditional building materials to accommodate tourists, well-trained local guides to take tourists around, peaceful and law-abiding local people, and the existence of some natural or man-made attractions for local and international tourists are some of the prerequisites for the development of small ecotourism ventures.

Throughout PNG, ecotourism sites and activities abound, but the knowledge on how to put together an ecotourism package that could bring in national and international tourists to an area is the missing link. The local people of an area, who lack basic knowledge on biodiversity conservation, cultural activities that can be used to attract tourists, and natural wonders that can be used as tourist attractions, must be assisted in terms of knowledge and financial support to get these activities off the ground to make ecotourism work.

Today, due to the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability, the need to conserve nature has gained global significance over the years. Therefore, ecotourism is one potential that customary landowners and the government of PNG can tie up with biodiversity conservation, cultural activities, and natural resource development activities to alleviate poverty in rural areas, bring in revenue for the country, and address climate change and environmental sustainability issues.

Other issues that could be addressed to enhance ecotourism potentials in PNG include deteriorating law and order, high cost of airfares and hotel accommodations, and poor and deteriorating road, airport and marine infrastructures. With increasing lawlessness and high cost of airfares and hotel accommodations, and poor and deteriorating road, airport and marine infrastructures, we will fail to lure local and international tourists to specific ecotourism sites.

Peoples in rural areas are keen to use their lands, forests, waterfalls, biodiversity, sacred sites, and cultural activities to lure national and international tourists to their villages and landscapes so that some form of economic benefit flows into their communities. Although the benefits may not be enough to drastically change their lives, it is better than nothing from the provincial and national governments.

The people use their lands, forests, biodiversity, cultures, and other resources to attract tourists to their areas so that some economic benefits can trickle down to them due to lack of government services. Although the little economic benefit that ecotourism can bring may not be enough to make significant changes to their lives, it does have some impact compared to nothing at all from the government of PNG.

Therefore, the economic benefits due to the people in terms of ecotourism activities such as tracking, cultural activities, biodiversity conservation, and so on must be delivered to them on time and in an honest manner to appease their desire for goods and services that are lacking in their lives. Failure by appropriate authorities to honestly deliver what rightfully belongs to the people in terms of ecotourism activities can see disgruntled landowners blocking off walking tracks and the escalation of law-and-order issues within relevant communities.

We can sit in Port Moresby and hold one meeting after another to talk about ecotourism, but we will never get anywhere with our efforts if we do not get out to the fields to do any honest work. It is only when we go out to the fields to do honest work with customary landowners that things will change for the better to benefit the country and the custodians of ecotourism resources. The people own the resources, but relevant government departments and educational institutions have to get out to the fields to assist with knowledge and financial support to see ecotourism ventures get off the ground in this country.