Travel problems compounded in PNG

I traveled to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Aug. 12-29, ’04, using the services of a locally based company called Budget Tours. I paid them to make all my tour arrangements, including transportation within PNG, accommodations, guide services, etc.

I prepaid the land package, and my in-country PNG airline tickets were given to me on arrival. However, on several occasions lodgings and transfers had not been paid for by the tour operator by the time I arrived at particular locations on my itinerary, thus leaving me stranded. I even had to hitchhike to town more than once when the promised transportation did not meet me. (Public transportation was nonexistent in most places.)

For security purposes, one needs an escort in PNG. When one was not provided as I had expected, I had to find one and pay him out of my own pocket.

Some of the guides assigned to me who did meet me complained that Budget Tours had not given them sufficient money for their services as well as for the accommodations they were to arrange for me.

I once was stranded six hours in a little village when the car I was supposed to travel in was burned by an angry mob. I never quite figured out why. There was no other transportation back to Wewak. Thankfully, Sue and Richard Baker of Last Frontier Arts (P.O. Box 51, Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea; tel. 675 856 1400 or visit www.lastfrontierarts.com.pg) came to my aid. They declined any payment for their assistance.

It was about 11 p.m. when I got to Wewak. I finally got a room there at the Airport Inn. On my door was a notice not to open my door after 10 p.m. because of two loose attack dogs. I was to call the front desk if anything was needed. However, my room had no phone! Anyway, they did keep the dogs in a pen until I settled in. (Otherwise, I can recommend that little hotel if one is not in need of luxury. In fact, most of the rooms have waterbeds.)

Overall, Papua New Guinea is beautiful and interesting. Attending a festival, such as that held at Mt. Hagen every August, is an experience one cannot get anywhere else. The people have a unique culture and are hospitable, notwithstanding evident crime and violence in the society. Because of the latter, I believe that one should have a native tour guide at all times for safety reasons.

In my experience, the people loved to be photographed and did not ask for money.

SABINE JOYCE
Davidsonville, MD

After Ms. Joyce wrote to ITN, she learned that Budget Tours had changed its name to PNG Holidays, Ltd. (www.pngholidays.com). ITN sent a copy of the above letter to PNG Holidays, Ltd., and received the following reply.

I thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to make a response. This is the second year of my company’s operation in the tourism industry in Papua New Guinea. The odds against giving the precise quality of services to our clients are greater than any anticipation. This is because PNG is a very remote country with very minimal infrastructure such as roads and communication links and other important services. Compounded to that, we have a skeleton and poor aviation system.

My client Mrs. Sabine Joyce became a victim of the poor aviation system and communication problem. Because the flight was delayed in Madang for almost a day, she went late to Wewak. After arriving in Wewak she checked into a hotel that was not originally booked by me. She instead went to a very expensive hotel resulting in me diverting part of the money that was supposed to be used for the Sepik River Canoeing.

The other problems was the underestimation of the costing by my agent in Wewak, Mr. James Piaka. It was him as a local Sepik man who did the costing for the ground arrangements in Wewak and the Sepik. So when I realized that we need extra money, it was already into the Friday afternoon.

PNG is a difficult country with no proper banking facilities, so it was difficult for me to send in quick money to Wewak after I was informed. No services such as postal and banking operates on Saturdays and Sundays, so things got really worse.

When I wanted to book a flight to Wewak from Port Moresby on Saturday to oversee the problem myself, the Airlines Air Niugini did not have seats. So I was lost with nothing but prayed that by God’s mercy some people would really help. I was happy after Richard Becker from Frontier Arts helped the client.

I have learnt so much as a young tour operator after I had gone through all these experiences. As Joyce had mentioned, we are trying our best to exposition PNG at a very cheaper cost than those already established who have provided unreasonable prices. We are learning fast and are improving our services. We have corrected our mistakes and, as the saying goes, “Correction brings Perfection.” We are ensuring clients get the best out of PNG through us. Please give us another chance.

Cheers,

BENJAMIN NELSON NIKINTS, General Manager, PNG Holidays Limited, P.O. Box 1299, Mt. Hagen, WHP, Papua New Guinea