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Tour Operator Survey – Development of a Strategy for Sustainable Tourism
The Kokoda Track Foundation in conjunction with KTA, Kokoda Track leaders, communities, tour operators and other stakeholders, and utilizing the expertise of University of Technology Sydney, World Wild Fund for Nature PNG, PNG Sustainable Development Program, Pacific Economic Development Facility of the World Bank and others are developing a strategy for sustainable tourism.
As the final part of this process, the KTA circulated a sixteen question survey by e.mail to all current contactable Tour Operators of the Kokoda Track. Information from such survey is important for the preparation of the agenda for the forthcoming Port Moresby workshop 20-23 February, 2006. It is hoped that most addressees will respond.
On 4 January 2006 Mr Owen Davis of South Pacific Tours in Cairns, emailed the tour operators in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the survey and the KTA. Mr Davis has a business relationship/partnership with Niugini Holidays, Niugini Tours, South Pacific Tours PNG and Pacific Travel; and that these companies are more than K200,000 in arrears with trek fees owed to the KTA. These trek fees have been collected from trekkers by Ms Ruth Dicker of Niugini Holidays and retained in their company bank accounts.
The company run by Ms Dicker does not recognize the legitimacy of the KTA and refuses to cooperate with it by providing itineraries for their groups and paying the trek fees. This has created difficulties when their groups have arrived at campsites which have been booked by tour operators who are cooperative with the KTA, paying their fees and booking the campsites they require in advance. They also refuse to supply their trekking statistics to the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and to the KTA.
Some, including other Tour Operators, find it incredulous that an Australian based tour operator can treat a legal PNG Government Authority with such contempt.
The Board of the KTA has determined that it will not allow any Kokoda Track tour operator to sabotage the development of a strategic plan for the Kokoda Track or to undermine the legitimacy of a proper and legal instrument of the PNG Government. The Board has therefore resolved that any tour companies who refuse to apply for and obtain KTA Trek Permits will be banned from trekking the Kokoda Trail with effect from 1 January 2006 until they submit all of the outstanding trek fees they have collected since Trek Permit Statistics commenced in 2001, together with interest.
Summary
In the short time since the KTA was established by the PNG Government as a Special Purpose Authority on 11 June 2003, the number of tour operators and trekkers has increased by more than 300 per cent. This rapid increase in such a short period of time has had a significant impact on village culture and the environment. It is therefore imperative that a proper plan is put in place to protect the historical, cultural and environmental integrity of the track and its environs.
The KTA has conducted awareness patrols to liaise with local landowners, clan leaders and village communities. KTA has assisted KTF in the conduct of workshops and have funded numerous community projects aimed at delivering shared benefits to village communities. KTA has also continued to liaise with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, the National Cultural Commission, Koiari and Kokoda Local-level Governments, Central and Oro Provincial Governments and the Ministry for Inter-government Relations as well as working with The PNG Sustainable Development Foundation, the Australian High Commission and the World Bank.
We therefore request that Tour Operators who received the Tour Operator Survey for the Development of a Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, complete their surveys and e.mail to KTA at kokodatrackauthority@global.net.pg or sogent@global.net.pg. If sending by fax, please send to (675) 853 3111 up to 16 January and after that date to (675) 325 1887 or (675) 325 5540.
Kokoda Track Authority requires the support of the Tour Operators in ensuring that Trek Permit Fees are charged as part of their Trek Package and remitted to KTA so that ongoing community infrastructure projects can be accomplished for the benefit of all concerned. In 2006, Operators and Trekkers who fail to comply will be banned from the Kokoda Track.
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