World Report

On dry land, PNG is “the land of a thousand cultures”, rich in flora and fauna, while beneath its waters are some of the finest coral reefs in the world

Scuba divers can swim with thousands of fish species in a pristine submerged landscape

apua New Guinea is probably one of the most attractive holiday destinations in the Asia/Pacific region and the tourism industry could become a major income earner for the country.
The strength of the country’s appeal lies in its extraordinarily varied and beautiful natural environment. PNG is a country of huge variety and natural wildness, with a landscape that ranges from rugged mountains and smoking volcanoes to low-lying coral atolls, from freezing glaciers to humid tropical forests, raging rivers and warm, sandy beaches.

This remarkable natural environment is home to an abundance of flora and fauna. PNG harbours more than 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity in less than 1 percent of the world’s land area. There are almost 9,000 species of plants, hundreds of different kinds of mammals, reptiles, insects and butterflies, and 700 species of birds, including 38 of the 43 known species of birds of paradise.

The 16th century Portuguese explorer Jorge de Meneses named the country “Ilhas dos Papuas” (Island of the Fuzzy Hairs). “New Guinea” was added later by Spanish navigator Ortiz Retes, because the people reminded him of the inhabitants of the Guinea coast of Africa. Since then, the extraordinary multiplicity of languages, tribal dress styles, dances, customs, traditions and beliefs to be found in PNG has earned the country the sobriquet of “land of a thousand cultures”.

On land, PNG offers ideal opportunities for trekking, climbing, white water rafting and experiencing village life. However, it is PNG’s marine environment that gives the country its strongest appeal.
The coral reefs extend over an area of 15,000 square miles and offer some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in the world. PNG’s waters are an underwater wonderland, reckoned to contain up to five times as many marine species as the Caribbean, including manta rays, sharks, dolphins and Minki whales.

Some 3,000 species of fish live among the 300 kinds of coral, whose pristine condition contrasts favourably with that to be found in more exploited diving destinations in other parts of the world.
Wreck sites feature ships, aircraft and submarine wrecks from fighting in the Second World War between allied forces and the Japanese.

Despite having so much going for it, PNG’s tourism industry remains small, contributing only 2.5 percent to the country’s GDP. Visitor arrivals have registered only a marginal increase over the last ten years and a high percentage of those who travel to the country do so for business purposes rather than for a holiday.
This is a situation the present government is working to change by spending more on niche marketing. PNG is unlikely ever to become a destination for mass tourism, but that is another contributing factor to its appeal.
At present entry to the country by air can only be made via Port Moresby, but the government is looking at opening three more international airports at Rabaul, Mount Hagen and Alotau, each of which has much to offer as a tourism destination within the country.