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Great for Milne Bay tourism!
By NELSON K PHILIP
MILNE Bays Gurney Airport has been officially classed an international airport.
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye announced the airport upgrade status at Gurney last Saturday where he also cut a ribbon to celebrate the occasion.
Mr Polye was impressed with the quality of the Gurney Airport infrastructure, saying that it was better than most Papua Guinea airports.
Mr Polye said the Government had decided to upgrade six airports to international standard and Gurney was the first.
We are here to witness the ceremony marking the extension of the terminal building, the installation of airport security check-bag screening and passenger screening services and the certification of Gurney Airport in accordance with the civil aviation rules that came into being in 2004, he said.
Other international airports are Port Moresbys Jackson Airport, Morobes Nadzab, Mt Hagen and Madang.
Mr Polye said that Kavieng and Tokua airports would be certified by the end of this year.
He said the Government recognised Milne Bays tourism potential and Gurneys international status complements the Governments vision of bringing transport and market access to the rural majority.
Mr Polye also announced that airline company Skyworld had been granted permission to operate direct international flights between Cairns, Australia, and Gurney.
Meanwhile, Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel said the Government should create more projects outside Port Moresby.
Mr Abel, who is Alotau MP, said the Government should expand rural industries to give the people income-earning opportunities.
He said Alotau had the makings of a tourism haven and upgrading the Gurney airport was a step in the right direction.
I feel that tourism is the way forward because it is sustainable, safe and economically viable, he said.
He said the airport also needed a fire truck, security and runway lighting system, extension and widening of the runway to accommodate bigger aircraft.