PAPUA NEW GUINEANS have been called on to be proud of their identity as they commemorate the country’s 43rd Independence Anniversary.
Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur made the call while opening the 62nd Goroka Show last Saturday in front of thousands of people including 150 cultural groups from across PNG and more than 1000 international tourists.
Tammur said unlike many other countries in the world, "we are a unique nation of 850-plus unique languages and over 1000 different tribes and cultures".
"More importantly we own 80 percent of the land as individuals, clans and tribes," he said.
"What this means is that we have the right to determine what sort of economic developments we want for ourselves on our land.
"We must use these birthrights to embrace tourism and agriculture developments as real sustainable industries.
"Oil, gas, gold and copper will benefit only a few, including the rich.
"Tourism and agriculture will benefit the little ordinary people right in the rural communities and for a long time into the future."
Tammur commended organisers of the Goroka Show including its chairlady Keryn Hargreaves for continuously and successfully hosting the event over so many years.
He said cultural festivals in PNG were becoming challenging and difficult to host because of the high costs.
Tammur thanked State entities such as the Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Gaming Control Board for their funding support to cultural festivals including the Goroka Show.
He commended the corporate sponsors and other stakeholders saying their continued support would be needed moving forward into the future.
Tammur said his Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture was working on a policy submission to Parliament for the National Government to fund major cultural festivals through the national budget.
He said maintaining and promoting cultural festivals was "not only important for tourism purposes for our identity as a unique and culturally diverse nation".
Tammur encouraged Papua New Guineans to be positive advocates for meaningful development and change within their own communities by appreciating the decision by the founding fathers to gain Independence for our country instead of being critical of the Government all the time.
Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu MP told show goers it was his government’s aim to revive tourism in his province and bring it back to its glory days as the tourism hub of the Highlands.
He said his government would give priority to the tourism sector in the 2019 provincial budget through increased funding.
He said they would also work with the Tourism Promotion Authority and other stakeholders to grow the province’s tourism sector.
The 62nd Goroka Show under the theme ,Promoting Agriculture and Tourism – Our Culture Our Identity' started with the Pikinini Festival on Friday and ended on Sunday – Independence Day.
Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur made the call while opening the 62nd Goroka Show last Saturday in front of thousands of people including 150 cultural groups from across PNG and more than 1000 international tourists.
 |
| Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur with the famous Simbai dancers of Madang at the 2018 Goroka Show. |
 |
| Two Italian tourists having fun with local Goroka dancers at the 2018 Goroka Show. |
"More importantly we own 80 percent of the land as individuals, clans and tribes," he said.
"What this means is that we have the right to determine what sort of economic developments we want for ourselves on our land.
"We must use these birthrights to embrace tourism and agriculture developments as real sustainable industries.
"Oil, gas, gold and copper will benefit only a few, including the rich.
"Tourism and agriculture will benefit the little ordinary people right in the rural communities and for a long time into the future."
Tammur commended organisers of the Goroka Show including its chairlady Keryn Hargreaves for continuously and successfully hosting the event over so many years.
He said cultural festivals in PNG were becoming challenging and difficult to host because of the high costs.
Tammur thanked State entities such as the Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Gaming Control Board for their funding support to cultural festivals including the Goroka Show.
He commended the corporate sponsors and other stakeholders saying their continued support would be needed moving forward into the future.
Tammur said his Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture was working on a policy submission to Parliament for the National Government to fund major cultural festivals through the national budget.
He said maintaining and promoting cultural festivals was "not only important for tourism purposes for our identity as a unique and culturally diverse nation".
Tammur encouraged Papua New Guineans to be positive advocates for meaningful development and change within their own communities by appreciating the decision by the founding fathers to gain Independence for our country instead of being critical of the Government all the time.
Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu MP told show goers it was his government’s aim to revive tourism in his province and bring it back to its glory days as the tourism hub of the Highlands.
He said his government would give priority to the tourism sector in the 2019 provincial budget through increased funding.
He said they would also work with the Tourism Promotion Authority and other stakeholders to grow the province’s tourism sector.
The 62nd Goroka Show under the theme ,Promoting Agriculture and Tourism – Our Culture Our Identity' started with the Pikinini Festival on Friday and ended on Sunday – Independence Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment