Tkatchenko optimistic for league in 2016

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THOSE were the words from the Minister for Sport Justin Tkatchenko when referring to the outlook for rugby league in the New Year in light of recent criticisms aimed at the sport in recent weeks.

He said that he was looking forward to the 2016 rugby league calendar, in light of the ever improving performances of the SP hunters team and the looming 2017 Rugby League World Cup to be co-hosted in Port Moresby.

“With the Kumuls, yes we might not be number one, but we can’t expect the Kumuls to be number one in three years. It is impossible. We have a plan, and that plan is to the lead up to the world cup in 2017 right here in Port Moresby,” Minister Tkatchenko said.

“We inherited the Kumuls when they were absolutely nothing, down and out. We had to start the Kumuls all over again.”

“From the training, to the staff and give them those young future stars, up and going through the Hunters and through the junior rugby league program.”

He pointed out that the results would not happen overnight unless all stakeholders work together to make it happen.

“I am looking forward to the 2016 season, backing the Hunters all the way so they can not only represent the country, but can represent those that support rugby league and all their fans, their supporters in Queensland Australia and this time lets go for gold and win the Intrust Super Cup in 2016.”

“We came very close last year, so I can’t see why we can’t do it again.”

The minister also made reference to talk of too much funding being spent in the sport being a shared commitment over a three year period to rebuild the national sport.

“Rugby league doesn’t have that much funding as everybody thinks. Yes we have pumped in it over three years. Probably close to K10 million in the 3 years, that is through the National Gaming Board and through the National Government, but the rest of the funding comes from the private sector.”

“SP brewery major sponsor nearly K2 million a year for the hunters and to rugby league as a whole. We must get the balance right here and we have got it right. We have got a national sport that most Papua New Guineans support.”

“We have got a career path for rugby league players, the junior rugby league players they have got a career path to be a Hunter or a Kumul. That wasn’t there before.”

“Now look at what we have created because our national sport is now well run, well organized and well managed.”

Media urged to be sensitive on negativity

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

FACING a media storm in his first engagements as the country’s new minister for tourism, arts and culture- Justin Tkatchenko has urged the media to be more sensitive in its reporting of national issues that could jeopardise the country’s efforts to boost the tourism sector.

Following the ambush and rape of an American woman and her British boyfriend along the Kokoda Track, which he condemned- Mr Tkatchenko reminded the media of the consequences of effects of a much more connected world dominated by social networks and the internet.

“Media you play a very important role as well. A huge role, remember when you report about the negativity of our country it goes viral all over the place.”

“Yes we have to report it but we have to balance it as well. Media when it comes to promoting our country- you are a key to the door of success or downfall of our country as well.”

His comments were also supported by the Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Charles Abel.

“I appeal to our media to be sensitive about these things. Every country has issues and incidents and we just have to be a little sensitive on how we report it,” Abel said.

“Knowing how our country is struggling to overcome some of these perception issues in the marketplace.”

Govt supports music tourism

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

WITH Port Moresby already taking on a host of musical world class acts over the last few year- the success of the Michael Learns to Rock concert last year and next week’s stadium concert has gained support from the new Minister For Tourism, Arts and Culture Justin Tkatchenko.

Mr Tkatchenko has both hailed and encouraged the participation of the private sector in hosting world class acts in the various sporting complexes built for the 2015 Pacific Games.

The minister stated that under the care of the National Sports Foundation, through the National Sports Trust Limited- the facilities were open to various activities that will enable the venues to be maintained.

“We encourage the private sector to put their hands up and say we want to bring UB40 to Papua New Guinea for our people to enjoy, or we want to bring John Farnham and U2 or whoever they are to the country.”

“The facilities are there to be utilized, under the guidance and leadership of our CEO (PNG Sports Foundation) they have got their own marketing team and events team set up and ready to make sure that these facilities are offered to everybody.”

“Whether it is a concert, a religious rally, an exhibition promoting different products, or of course a big sporting event or convention. The doors are open for people to utilize these facilities.”

“With Lamana bringing UB40 and having a massive concert at the Sir John Guise Stadium. That is the sort of thing we want to see.”

He said the country is ready for it, and it is only for the private sector to come on board and support what the government is doing and utilize the facilities and promote them in a big way.

I am happy the private sector is utilizing our facilities which will benefit us in terms of entertainment and arts and many other things for our people. So it is a win-win situation.

Positivity key to recover for tourism promotion sector: TPA boss

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

OUTGOING Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) CEO, Peter Vincent, has said that positivity is the key for the tourism promotion sector to move on from incidents that can threaten the numbers of tourist visiting the country.

His comments came when asked by the Sunday Chronicle on how TPA as an organisation responds to incidents, such as Monday’s tourist incident along the Kokoda Track in the Central Province, in terms of carrying out its role in promoting the country as a tourist destination.

“Really depends on the nature of the incident. The incident that occured is very serious, the way we would look at it is that rather than dwelling on what has happened we’ll look at positive media reports on how we can respond positively to the incident and how we can be able to recover very fast,” Mr Vincent said.

“What has happened in Kokoda is a classic example, and the response of police has been swift and we have to work with stakeholders to ensure that responses to those incidents are faster.”

“If we can bring those people who are involved to justice. At least we are seen to be doing something. If we don’t do anything and we let it dies away we will continue to have some problems.”

Mr Vincent has had a long career within the airline and tourism industry and has had 16 years as the head of the country’s tourism promotion authority.

When asked regarding the future of the organisation going forward- he added his optimism and excitement in what the organisation is set to achieve with its new minister Justin Tkatchenko.

“We have a new minister and I am excited about him. He is a man with passion and he want to get things done and we look forward to working with him.”

“There is still a lot of things that need to be done, things we’ve shelved that we want to be able to move on. With the new minister on board I’m sure we will see a lot of new exciting things.”

Tourism is a sleeping giant: Minister

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE new Minister for Tourism Culture and Arts, Justin Tkatchenko has ensured to put to good use major funding allocated in the 2016 budget in awakening what he described as a sleeping giant, the tourism sector in Papua New Guinea.

After spearheading a successful Pacific Games last year in Port Moresby as sports minister- Mr Tkatchenko adds onto the portfolio the tourism ministry in a bid by the O’Niell-Dion Government to diversify revenue streams in the country in light of fledging commodity prices predicted to fall into the 2016 year.

He thanked the Prime Minister O’Neill for confidence in him to deliver one of the government’s priorities for the New Year, adding that it would not be an easy task to achieve.

“It is a huge challenge. Tourism is a sleeping giant waiting to be awaken, and we have got so much we can do with it and this year it has got a budget to go with it,” Minister Tkatchenko said.

“The government this year has put K50 million for the promotion, marketing and development of tourism in Papua New Guinea and abroad, which is the first time in history that tourism has got that kind of funding.”

“As minister I will ensure that we direct that funding in the right way, to promote our fantastic country. And also develop and help our current operators be bigger than they have ever been before.”

The minister said that it is time to get government and the private sector involvement in private-public partnerships to develop tourism to benefit everyone.

“I have seen a lot of the beauty of our country for many years as the PNG Gardener through promoting our country through television and also through radio.”

“It is about every single person coming onboard and being a proud Papua New Guinean promoting our country. A lot of this is not going to happen overnight. It is going to take time and patience, and going to take a lot of effort.

He made mention of the achievements made by his predecessor in his brief capacity as acting-minister, National Planning Minister Charles Abel for the success of the direct flights from Australia to Alotau, with visa on arrival privileges for visiting tourists as the step in the right direction that could be emulated in other tourist attracting provinces.

“A lot of us have to change our attitude, a lot of us have to change the way we look at things to put a more positive spin to our country.”

Adding after yet another attack on tourists on Monday along the famous Kokoda Track, there is the need for a system of development of putting down law and order, so as to attract more people and ensure safety and security.

“The biggest problem we have is law and order. It scares off our potential tourists, so we have a big challenge ahead of us trying to get numbers into the country.”