Kokoda track’s potential not fully utilized

The potential of developing various tourism products along the Kokoda Track still remains.

Currently, many tourists know that Kokoda track alone is the national flagship tourism product as it has World War II significance.

The Chief Executive Officer of Kokoda Track Authority [KTA], Julius Wargirai, said that apart from trekking, they are possible tourism products that can be developed for tour explore while trekking

"We still have to develop more products. At the moment, we only have the track, which is only one product.

"There are other products like bird watching, scenery, fishing, and rafting.These are the products we did not explore, and it all comes back to all our stakeholders working together to utilize the trek.

"If we can develop these products, I'm sure people from countries will flood in a generate revenue for the country," Mr. Wargirai said.

He added that in policy aspects, the KTA management, Tourism Promotion Authority, and Australian Government funded project-Kokoda Track Initiative can develop proper policy guide to fully utilize the track.

"We need to work together and develop a master plan for Kokoda. This can only be achieved through collaborative effort from all stakeholders," he added.

He highlighted the recent signing of the Kokoda Sanitation Project on Monday [yesterday] as the first step towards fully utilizing the track.

The TPA CEO Eric Mossman acknowledged that Kokoda Track brings a lot of revenue into the country, and TPA is looking forward to working with the stakeholders to ensure specific areas if improvement will be addressed as time goes by.

Meanwhile, the owners of 95 campsites along the track have regrouped themselves and formed two associations in 2018, and they are ready to work with partners to make the track want-to-go tourism destination for all.