The Rise, Fall and Future of Kokoda Tourism
Kokoda tourism was suspended for three years during the Covid period – KTA staff were retained on full pay during this period.
This offered them an opportunity to review their management procedures, call for discussion papers from stakeholders in Kokoda tourism and circulating them for comment with a view to drafting a policy document.
Unfortunately the staff seemed to go into a coma and no action was taken in this regard.
We therefore took the initiative and offered a paper based on the suggestions of our Adventure Kokoda trek leaders who have a combined total of 160 years professional military experience and who have led more that 600 expeditions across the Trail over the past 32 years.
We did not get a response from the KTA, and nothing has changed since then – the 2023 Kokoda tourism season has seen a continuation of the management dysfunction that had become the norm well prior to Covid.
