NG is now the only country in the world which allows its most popular tourism destination to be managed as an environment park controlled by foreign aid-funded environment officials, consultants, anthropologists, archeologists, and social engineers rather than as a tourism enterprise for the economic benefit of traditional landowner communities!
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Over the past 32 years I have led 101 expeditions across the Kokoda Trail. During this time I have also travelled to Canberra to brief eight of the 11 Ministers for Veterans Affairs and three of the Ministers for International Aid and the Pacific, on the need to protect our shared military heritage across the Kokoda Trail. Unfortunately, there were no outcomes from these meetings.
I have also submitted numerous papers with suggestions for improving the management of Kokoda pilgrimage tourism. These were based on the collective experience of our trek leaders who have a combined total of 160 years professional military experience and who have led more than 600 expeditions across the Trail over the past 32 years. All have been ignored by DFAT environment officials in Canberra and Port Moresby.
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I know I’m old school – a boomer from a bygone era who grew up surrounded by men who had fought in...
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These papers, submissions and articles in the following blogs encapsulate my 32-year involvement with the Kokoda Trail in particular, and PNG in general. During this time, I was able to lead 101 expeditions across the Trail and share the experience with more than 2,000 wonderful Australians from all walks of life.
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Under Australian management since 2009 trekker numbers have declined by 42% resulting in a direct annual loss of $1.2 million (K3.1 million) for village communities across the Trail.
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The illegal blockade on the Kokoda Trail should be the catalyst for an inquiry into the operation...
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The Kokoda Trail had been subject to random blockades by village-based landowners over the past 15...
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Responsibility for the current situation rests squarely with Canberra funded Kokoda Initiative officials who have used the term ‘Kokoda’ to give relevance to an environmental agenda which has resulted in a decline of 46% in Kokoda toirism numbers since they took control of the Kokoda Trail under a Joint Understanding with PNG in 2009 and reaffirmed in 2015.
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The following blogs were written 15 years ago soon after Australian officials assumed management control of the Kokoda Trail on eye-watering 6-figure salaries loaded with generous allowances and tax deductions. Back then Kokoda tour operators held high expectations …
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Anarchy – ‘a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of...
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The illegal blockade of the Kokoda Trail without warning by a dissident group of Port Moresby...
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This paper exposes the evolution of Wayne Wetherall’s carefully crafted transition from an unknown...
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