PNG in excess of 860 different languages accounting for a third of the world’s indigenous tongues

By MICHAEL KUMAKA | COMMENTARY

The harsh and rugged landscape of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is home to the largest area of intact rainforest outside of the Amazon, steep mountain ranges, turbulent rivers, untouched beaches, unique flora and fauna, and active volcanoes.

PNG is also home to over 8 million people constituting more than 1,000 different indigenous cultural communities.

It is considered to be one of the most heterogeneous populations in the world, predominately living outside urban districts in rural areas, and differentiated by their own language, customs, and traditions

There are in excess of 860 indigenous languages (tok ples) accounting for a third of the world’s indigenous tongues.

The indigenous communities of PNG embrace the varying cultures through visual expressions, which are all integral to the ongoing way of life in PNG.

It is the rich and diverse cultural festivals, combined with a diverse population and some of the world’s most unique flora, fauna, and landscapes, that provide PNG with a unique selling proposition as an attractive adventure-driven tourism and event destination.

There are significant opportunities for the development of what can arguably be termed an “emergent” tourism and event industry.

For instance, PNG is arguably in the exploration stage of development as it is a relatively unexplored destination in which visitor numbers are small, and access, facilities, and local knowledge are limited. – Via Garamut News.