|
|
 |
|
|
 |
INTRODUCTION
Papua New Guinea lies entirely within the tropics, just south of the equator, and 160km to the north of Australia. With a total land mass of about 473,189sq.km., the country encompasses the eastern part of the New Guinea island - the second largest island in the world, plus some 600 islands, atolls and coral reefs. A central core of mountains, the Owen Stanley Range, runs east and west rising steeply from the coastal plains. From its highest peak, 4,500 metre-high Mt Wilhelm, and from dozens of other peaks, great rivers like the Sepik and Fly begin their journey to the sea.
Below the mountain chain, fertile coastal plains, flooded delta regions and mangrove swamps exist alongside broad sandy beaches, colorful sheltered bays and dense rainforest.
PEOPLE
Papua New Guinea has a total population of almost 4 million people, comprised mainly of Melanesian race with dark skin, fuzzy hair and friendly smiles. The 1990 Census put the official population count at 3.8 million. There are more than 800 distinct languages. Melanesian Pidgin and Hiri Motu are the two most widely used, but English is the official language in education, business and government circles.
POLITICS
The country , fully independent since September 16, 1975, has freely elected democratic government. Papua New guinea became the 142nd member of the United Nations on October 10, 1975, and is also a member of the British Commonwealth.
Top
of page
|
Table of Contents
Air Travel
Banking & Currency
Business Hours
Climate
Dress
Duty Free
Economy
Entry Requirements
Handicrafts
Health Regulations
Medical Services
Night Life
People
Politics
Power Supply
Public Holidays
Restaurants
Shopping
Sport
Telecommunications
Time Zone
Tipping
Transportation
Water Supply
IMAGES OF PNG
|
ECONOMY
Papua New Guinea has a vibrant and multifaceted economy with two distinct systems operating side by side. The vast majority of our people live in a traditional, non-monetary barter economy that existed long before European colonisation began. Co-existing with this is a modern economic system based on mining, petroleum, fishing, forestry and agriculture. Our main exports are gold, copper, oil, coffee, tea, copra, palm oil, forest and marine products. Top
of page
AIR TRAVEL
Jackson’s International Airport is the gateway to Papua New Guinea, situated 8km away from the main town centre of Port Moresby. Mt Hagen Provincial Airport has been declared an International Port of entry because of the mining activities in the Highlands provinces.
International airlines - Air Niugini and Qantas.
Domestic airlines - Air Niugini, Airlink, Airlines of PNG, Islands Nationair, Trans Niugini Airways, MAF. Top
of page
BANKING & CURRENCY
Banking hours: Monday to Thursday - 9.00am-3.00pm. Friday -9.00am-5.00pm.
Currency: Papua New Guinea’s currency unit is the Kina which is divided into 100 toea. There are K50, K20, K10, K5 and K2 notes and a K1 coin. In Junuary 2002, one Kina was equal to approximately US$0.25. Travelers cheques and the international credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants. Top
of page
BUSINESS
HOURS
Commercial Firms: Monday to Friday: 8.00 - 4.30 or 5.00pm. Saturday: 8.00am - 12.00 noon.
Government Hours: Monday - Friday: 7.45am - 4.06pm.
CLIMATE
Warm to hot and humid throughout the year. There is a rainy season that varies from province to province, however, in general, its driest from May to December. The air is clean , watch out for sunburn, particularly in the Highlands, even on overcast days. Top
of page
DUTY FREE
Standard customs concessions for travelers apply to the following goods.
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco
- One litre of spirits
- A reasonable amount of perfume
DRESS
Informal or casual with shorts and open neck shirts worn throughout the year along with traditional items of apparel: ramis, sulus, laplaps, and kolos. Thongs, sneakers and sandshoes are not allowed in some bars and restaurants. In the Highlands, sturdy walking shoes are recommended as is a sweater or jacket for cool evenings. Female dress should always be modest. Top
of page
POWER SUPPLY
Electrical current on the national grid is 240 volts, AC 50hz. Some hotels provide 110
volt outlets in guest rooms for shavers and hair dryers. Top
of page
NIGHTLIFE
Usually very quiet. Home entertainment is popular. Major hotels provide their own
entertainment. The capital, Port Moresby, offers the same variety of entertainment and
nightlife found in most Major cities. Top
of page
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A 60-day tourist visa can be obtained from any Papua New Guinea Diplomatic Mission or
nearest Australian Mission at a cost equivalent to K10.00. Visas can also be obtained on
arrival for a fee of K25.00, and can be extended for another 30 days for a fee of K50.00.
Business Entry Visas are valid for a minimum of sixty (60) days per entry and are valid
for 12 months from the date of issue. As such, business entry visas are multiple entry.
Visas can be obtained from any PNG Diplomatic Mission or the nearest Australian Mission
for a fee equivalent to K25.00. You will need valid travel documents, sufficient funds for
your stay in our country and an airline ticket with a confirmation outbound flight before
the expiry date of your visa.
A some restrictions apply to travelers from several Asian, Eastern Europe and African
countries, we recommend that you check with the PNG Embassy or the nearest Australian
Mission for visa requirements before travelling to PNG Top
of page
HEALTH REGULATIONS
Certification or vaccination against yellow fever or cholera is required for travelers
over one year of age coming from or through infected areas. Malaria is the only serious
health risk. Visitors are strongly advised to consult your local doctor or tropical
disease clinic to commence anti-malarial preparations before arrival. Top
of page
WATER SUPPLY
All towns have reticulated water. Water quality is within World Health Organization
standards in most towns. Bottled water is available. In rural areas it is advisable to
boil water at all times. Top
of page
FOOD/RESTAURANTS
You won’t go hungry in Papua New Guinea . Western cuisine is available in hotels,
restaurants, guest houses, lodges and village resorts. Port Moresby has many Asian and
European restaurants. For something different, try a traditional ‘mumu’ of roast
pork, sweet potatoes, rice and greens. Top
of page
HANDICRAFTS & SOUVENIRS
One of the many pleasant surprises of Papua New Guinea is the wide range of art forms in
diverse styles. Among the many tempting souvenirs you will encounter are:
Bilums - string bags made from natural fibres.
Masks - woven from cane or rattan; make of wood and clay and decorated with shells,
hair and pig’s teeth or incised with brown and white patterns in glossy black.
Wooden bowls - bowls fashioned from prized local timber, including ebony. Carved
walking sticks, stools and tables are often inlaid with mother of pearl.
Basket/Trays - Many different patterns and styles can be found. Those from
Bougainville are regarded as some of the finest in the Pacific.
Drums - the most common musical instrument in Papua New Guinea: those made from a
hollow tree trunk are called Garamuts while the smaller Kundu is shaped like an hour glass
and has snake or lizard skin stretched over one end
Story Board - made on the Karam River, they illustrate in raised relief incidents
of village life.
Spirit Boards - act as guardians of the village with those from the Gulf Province
believed to possess the spirits of powerful warriors. Top
of page
We want to keep our cultural heritage intact, so items made before 1960 are restricted
exports. They must be inspected by National Museum Staff before an export permit can be
considered. Export Bird of Paradise plumes as well as stone artifacts - except stone axe -
is prohibited. Top
of page
SHOPPING
From modern department complexes to quaint little stores there are plenty of places to
spend your money. In artifact shops you may try your hand at bargaining but be gentle!
Remember that Saturday is a half day for most shops and most shops except trade stores and
supermarkets are closed on Sunday. Top
of page
MEDICAL SERVICES
Dental, doctors and hospital services are available in all major centres.. Medical clinics
and aid posts are found in remote areas and several hospitals are privately owned. Top of page
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day - 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Queen’s Birthday - 13
June, Remembrance Day - 21 July, Independence Day -16 September, Christmas Day - 25
December, Boxing Day - 26 December.
Religion: Local traditional beliefs and ceremonies are maintained in remote areas;
however, Christians influence is predominant.
SPORT & RECREATION
Play golf, tennis and squash or go fishing, diving, snorkeling, hunting and trekking.
Check with Air Niugini, your travel agent or the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority for
venues,. Touch football is also very popular around the country. Top
of page
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Papua New Guinea has modern satellite communications which have brought the world closer
at the touch of a few buttons. International and Long Distance dialing are available in
most parts of the country. telex and Facsimile services are also readily available, except
in very remote areas where high frequency radios are in use. Internet services were
introduced into Papua New Guinea in May 1997.
TIME ZONE
Papua New Guinea is 10 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - the same as Australian
Eastern Standard Time. Papua New Guinea, being so close to the equator, does not have
daylight saving. Top
of page
TIPPING
Visitors to the country are guests and hospitality is an honour in our Melanesian culture.
Tips are neither expected nor encouraged.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is mostly by air across PNG. A good network of roads connects the
Northern zone and the highlands region. Rental cars, local boats and ferries, taxis in
larger towns, plus local buses. There is no road link between the northern zone and the
capital, Port Moresby, because of the rugged nature of the environment.
|
HOME | CONTENT | DRAWINGS | GUESTBOOK | LINKS | NURSERIES | ORCHIDS | PHOTOS | CONTACT
|
|
| |
