One of the country’s most attractive destinations for visitors, Milne Bay, is developing a local economy based on agriculture and tourism
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| Extending from the mainland over the Solomon Sea, Milne Bay is one of the largest and least populated provinces |
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at the southeastern tip of the mainland of Papua New Guinea, Milne
Bay Province is the largest and one of the least populated of Papua
New Guinea’s 19 provinces. The total land area totals approximately
5,400 square miles and includes more than 160 islands extending almost
6,000 square miles across the Solomon Sea. Milne Bay’s population
is just 205,000, only 25 percent of whom live on the mainland.
Like the rest of PNG, the province is notable for its extraordinarily rich natural environment. Most remarkable of all, however, is the extensive and complex system of coral reefs. Conservation International has made Milne Bay’s shorelines and archipelagos the focus of its marine conservation efforts in the region.
The
Governor of the province, Timothy Neville,
has ambitious plans for Milne Bay’s future. These centre mainly
on agriculture and tourism, both of which have huge potential that has
so far been relatively untapped.
Economic activity centres on mostly subsistence agriculture, with only
a third of the population engaged in income generating activities. Exports
include oil palm, fish and other marine products, gold and copper, as
well as cocoa and timber.
Currently
the largest single business and employer in Milne Bay is the Misima
gold mine, which was established in the province in 1997 and is moving
towards winding down and closure.
The most commercially successful agricultural activity is the oil palm
industry, which began twenty years ago with the establishment of a joint
venture between the government of PNG and the Commonwealth Development
Corporation.
Today, some 14,000 hectares are under cultivation, but Mr Neville wants to see this expanded to a minimum of 150,000 hectares. He believes the high quality of the oil gives the province a major commercial resource, which could easily be more fully exploited.
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Another
area with potential is the farming and export of vanilla. “We are
looking at vanilla in a very big way and at other tropical plants that
are grown here,” Mr Neville says.
Coconut production is to be developed with the building of a coconut
mill as a joint venture with an investor, and there are plans to promote
the cultivation of vegetables and rice. “We have brought in a rice
expert here and the idea is to source out places to grow different types
of rice. We have big rivers and sloping lands that can be irrigated.”
The
focal point for the province’s economic development, however, is
tourism, with the emphasis on ecotourism.
Unquestionably, diving is seen as the main attraction. In terms of marine
diversity, the province’s reef system is one of the richest in
the world. More than 1,000 species of fish have been identified, and
a recent survey found more than 429 species of coral, 14 of which were
new to science.
“People are looking for fresh destinations,” declares Mr Neville.
“We have hundreds of reefs that are untouched and have never been
dived on.”
In
addition to aquatic pursuits, Milne Bay provides excellent opportunities
for trekking, bush walking and bird watching, in addition to the chance
to experience the diverse local cultures.
Tourism infrastructure development in the province includes resorts
being constructed on the north coast, and a marina to cater for up to
100 boats.
With
a strong emphasis on law and order, the province is one of the safest
for visitors. The Governor has launched a campaign against litter and
introduced the Milne Bay Beautification Programme, with prizes for the
best kept commercial, residential and industrial areas.
There are plans to build a university for the study of marine biology
and marine engineering, and for training local people to work in the
tourism industry. Mr Neville says, “We want to bring the tourists
here and train our people to provide world-class services.”
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