PNG among world’s top destinations: National Geographic

Papua New Guinea has been selected as one of National Geographic Traveller’s 21 “Best of the World Destinations” for 2017.

In a statement, the Tourism Promotion Authority proudly said: “The highly anticipated annual list was unveiled in the December 2016/January 2017 issue of the magazine and has gone on sale on newsstands globally since November 29, and is also online at NatGeoTravel.com/BestTrips2017.”

TPA chief Executive officer Jerry Agus said National Geographic is the world’s top traveler’s magazine and for PNG to get its endorsement as one of the world’s best ‘must see’ destinations in 2017 was simply awesome.

Agus said despite the many challenges in marketing and promoting PNG to the world as a desired tourism destination, the efforts by TPA and our tourism industry partners were slowly but surely paying dividends on the world stage.

“To be also named by National Geographic as one of the best cultural destinations in the world further enhances PNG’s profile as the cultural capital of world,” he said.

“We all know our unique and diverse cultures and traditions are a major tourism attraction and such glowing global endorsements from National Geographic should only encourage us, as a people and a nation, to continue to strengthen and maintain our cultures and traditions.”

Agus said the challenge now was for TPA to work closely with key stakeholders, such as the National Cultural Commission and the national and provincial show organising committees, to continue to promote authentic PNG cultures and customs.

“For instance, we have to be strict and discourage our people using PVC pipes as kundu drums and strips of plastic for grass skirts,” he added.

The 2017 Best of the World destinations are (in alphabetical order):

•             Anchorage, Alaska, USA

•             Baja California National Marine Parks, Mexico

•             Banff, Alberta, Canada

•             Canton Uri, Switzerland

•             Cartagena, Colombia

•             Central India’s National Parks

•             Chengdu, China

•             Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

•             Ecuador’s Cloud Forests

•             Finland

•             Georgia, USA

•             Guadeloupe Islands

•             Hamburg, Germany

•             Kauai, Hawaii, USA

•             Madrid, Spain

•             Malta

•             Marrakech, Morocco

•             Moscow, Russia

•             Papua New Guinea

•             Seoul, Korea

•             Via Dinarica, Western Balkans